Wrapping up the Academic Year
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Dear Colleagues,
As we conclude the academic year, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the challenges we've faced together and the strength and perseverance of this community. While this year has been difficult, it has also brought many positive developments. I've highlighted these achievements in this newsletter, at Faculty Senate, in Administrative Briefings, and during school and college meetings because celebrating our successes is an important part of healing our community. A community that I am proud to be a member of.
With summer term upon us, I encourage you to rest, recharge, and reconnect with those who you care about and who care about you. This summer, we are welcoming five new deans and will spend time preparing them for the year ahead.
A good friend of mine shared this quote with me: “Life has taught me I am not always in control, Life is full of experiences, lessons, heartbreak, and pain. But it has also shown me love, beauty, possibility, and new beginnings. Embrace it all. It makes us who we are, and after every storm comes a clear sky.” Have a wonderful summer.
Sincerely,
Shelly Chabon, Ph.D.
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
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New Dean Cohort for the 2024/25 Academic Year
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We are excited to report that we successfully completed all of the six dean searches this year and will welcome a cohort of five new deans starting this summer. Each appointment is the result of a robust and rigorous national search process conducted by dedicated search chairs, committee members, and coordinators.
Jeremy Youde will join PSU on August 6 as the Dean of the College of Urban and Public Affairs (CUPA). He is currently Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Dr. Youde is nationally recognized in global health politics and International Relations and has a seminal book on these topics.
Qing Hu will serve as the next Dean of the School of Business (SB) starting August 1. Hu currently serves as the Dean of the Koppelman School of Business and Professor of Business Management at Brooklyn College—The City University of New York. He is a proven leader in higher education and a world renowned scholar in cybersecurity and the impacts of technology on society and business.
Maneka Brooks will join PSU as the next Dean of the College of Education (COE). She will begin remotely on July 1 and in person on August 1. She is currently Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Educator Preparation at Texas State University and has a proven track record of educational leadership and community engagement. She has substantial and successful experience working with local school districts on staffing strategies and her research is on second language literacy and bilingualism.
Evaon Wong will be the next Dean of the School of Social Work (SSW) starting August 1. She is currently the Founding Dean of and Professor in the College of Health Sciences at Samuel Merritt University. Dr. Wong is a collaborative and proven leader who embraces and advocates for social justice and inclusion. Her list of accomplishments as dean is long and impressive and includes overseeing the creation of a new college, establishing a master's in social work, planning for a new campus, and raising millions of dollars to support faculty and student research.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to our search committee chairs, Deans Cliff Allen, Joe Bull, Todd Rosenstiel, and Rossitza Wooster, and to the interim deans who served this academic year, Junghee Lee, Tina Peterman, and Shawn Smallman. I also want to thank our search coordinators, Nancy Goldman, Clair Pinkerton, and Jenny Carron.
We will welcome our new cohort of deans with a comprehensive onboarding process that will include activities and information to acclimate them to PSU, as well as development opportunities provided by our long-time partner, Summit Search Solutions.
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After two successful years as Vice Provost for Student Success, Erica Wagner has decided to return to the School of Business faculty. Interim Provost Shelly Chabon appointed Erin Shortlidge as Interim Vice Provost for Student Success starting August 15. Erin Shortlidge, Ph.D., an associate professor in biology, is involved in campus-wide initiatives to enhance instructor professional development and promote inclusive, evidence-based teaching practices. During the 2022-2024 academic years, as an OAA fellow, she used data-driven approaches to understand barriers to success for PSU STEM students, with a focus on gateway STEM courses. Our sincere thanks to Erica, and welcome Erin!
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Cliff Allen, Dean of the School of Business, will return to the faculty in the School of Business in September to teach Intro to Business, Intro to Supply Chain, and MBA Operations. Cliff began his journey with PSU as a part-time program administrator in 2008 and has since served as a faculty member, Academic Director, and Associate Dean before becoming dean in 2015. During his tenure as dean, Cliff made numerous and significant contributions: he successfully opened the career center and the Bloomberg Finance Lab, completed and moved the School of Business into the Karl Miller Center, fundraised over $40 million for the School, and developed new programs in Analytics, Blockchain, and Real Estate. He also led a successful reaccreditation and built strong relationships with the School of Business faculty and staff. His dedication to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the School's curriculum and hiring policies has left a lasting impact. Cliff's presence will be greatly missed. He plans to use his extra time to enjoy playing with his four- and two-year-old grandsons, playing guitar and writing music, and finishing his Master’s in Liberal Arts degree.
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Academic Affairs held what we believe is the first Faculty Retirement Reception on May 22. Over 100 guests attended to celebrate the 24 faculty members retiring this academic year. It was wonderful to visit with so many current and emeritus faculty and staff. For a list of this year’s faculty retirees, click on the “Learn More” button below.
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Cindy Baccar, Associate Vice Provost and University Registrar has decided to retire at the end of August. Cindy has been at PSU for over 25 years helping us to become the leader in the state in automating our transfer articulation system and most recently engaging in statewide work related to Common Course Numbering and the Major Transfer Map project. She has been actively involved in the Faculty Senate: serving as Chair of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, Chair of the Committee on Committees, and member of the Educational Policy Committee, Advisory Council, and Faculty Senate Steering Committee. Her service to the PSU community has been exemplary, and she will be greatly missed.
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