Moving Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences forward in its mission as the heart of the university just became a little easier.
Dean Andrew Hippisley announced that following an internal search process, two faculty members of Fairmount College have accepted appointments as associate deans. One current staff member has accepted new responsibilities.
Brien Bolin, professor and director of the School of Social Work, has agreed to serve in the role of associate dean of student success. In this capacity, Bolin will support the college's efforts in helping students successfully navigate a four-year degree program, and succeed in every sense: time to degree, exposure to curricular and co-curricular experiences, and engagement in high quality academic programming. Bolin will be responsible for data-driven retention initiatives; recruitment initiatives; assessment and program review; course scheduling; enrollment goals; curricular development; and consulting with the Fairmount College Student Advisory Council.
Bolin holds a doctorate in sociology from Oklahoma State University and has been at WSU since 1999. His appointment as associate dean is effective January 1, 2019.
David Eichhorn, professor and chair of the department of chemistry, has agreed to serve in the role of associate dean of faculty development and research. In this capacity, Eichhorn will support the college's efforts in helping all faculty succeed in their professional goals, and help the college deliver a high quality research program. Eichhorn will be responsible for major annual cycle events including tenure and promotion, faculty evaluations, and support of the faculty hiring process; all internal and external grant activity; major award nominations and applications; faculty research achievements and recognitions; and faculty personnel issues.
Eichhorn holds a doctorate in chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley and has been at WSU since 1996. His appointment as associate dean is effective January 1, 2019.
Cheryl Miller has taken on new responsibilities in the role of senior assistant dean for academic and staff operations. In this capacity, she will assist the dean in strategizing effective staff organization within the college and department units. A primary function of the position will be working with all staff (non-faculty) of the college, with both professional development and personnel issues. A secondary role will be maintaining outreach relationships with the college's alumni, faculty, students and community members. She will also serve as communication liaison between the dean and the chairs and directors, and between the dean and faculty.
Miller holds a master of arts in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University and has been at WSU since 1994.
The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good. Wichita State is a doctoral research university enrolling nearly 15,000 students and offering 59 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in seven undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers 45 master's and 12 doctoral degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas. Wichita State's Innovation Campus is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to the university's vast resources and technology. For more information, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wichitastate and Facebook at www.facebook.com/wichita.state.