Past DCLI Cohorts

Meet the alumni from recent Department Chair Leadership Institute cohorts.

Learn more.

2025 DCLI Cohort #1

Ginneh Akbar

Ginneh

Akbar

Department Chair/Program Director, Graduate Social Work

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Jonathan

Alcantar

Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Chicana/o and Latinx Studies

University of Northern Colorado

Douglas

Bates

Associate Professor and Department Chair, Social Work

Winston-Salem State University (NC)

Matthew L.

Bergbower

Political Science Department Chair

Indiana State University

Tammy

Bracewell

Chair of Social Sciences

Texas A&M University-Central Texas

Kimberly

Chappell

Department Chair, Advanced Education Programs

Fort Hays State University (KS)

Jennifer J.

Chen

Full Professor and Chair, Department of Early Childhood Education

Kean University (NJ)

Jerome

Christia

Department Chair for Marketing and Hospitality

Coastal Carolina University (SC)

Ben

Clegg

Department Head & Professor of Psychology

Montana State University – Bozeman

Richard

Conway

Associate Professor of History and Chair, History Department

Montclair State University (NJ)

Robin L.

Cook

Division Director of Math, IT, & Engineering

University of the District of Columbia

Leslie Crocker

Leslie N.

Crocker

Chairperson, Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation

Virginia State University

Rachel

Day

Chair, Department of Fine & Performing Arts; Assistant Professor of Vocal Music

Northwest Missouri State University

M. Graciela

Espinosa-Hernandez

Professor and Chair, Psychology Department

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Victoria

Foster

Director of Undergraduate Nursing Programs

Clayton State University (GA)

Jim

Fox

Chair, Department of Leadership and Literacy Studies

Salisbury University (MD)

Shannon

Godlove

Professor of English

Columbus State University (GA)

Jonathan M.

Harris

Chair and Professor of Film, Department of Film, Communication, and Performing Arts

Clayton State University (GA)

David

Jones

Chair of the Department of Art + Design, West Chester University

West Chester University (PA)

Marla F.

Jorgensen

Chairperson, Liberal Arts and Sciences

State University of New York at Farmingdale

John

Kinuthia

Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Accountancy, Finance, and Information Systems

Ferris State University (MI)

Thomas A.

Koc Jr

Program Director and Department Chair, Department of Physical Therapy

Kean University (NJ)

Jeffrey

Liew

Professor & Department Head of Educational Psychology

Texas A&M University

Payton

MacDonald

Chairperson, Music Department

William Paterson University (NJ)

Rekha

Meyer

Assistant Professor of Biology and Chair of the College of STEM

Harris-Stowe State University (MO)

Amy C. Dechen

Quinn

Professor and Chair, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, Environmental and Plant Sciences

State University of New York Cobleskill

Erin MacNeal

Rehrig

Chair and Professor of Biology and Chemistry

Fitchburg State University (MA)

Heather

Roberts

Associate Professor and Associate Director, Occupational Therapy Department

Texas Woman’s University

Erin L.

Ryan

Professor & Department Head, Communication

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Elly M.

Sweet

Associate Dean and Academic Director of College of Arts and Sciences; Associate Professor of Biology

Washington State University Tri-Cities

Rita

Walters

Chair of the Department of Social Work

Ferris State University (MI)

Karleen

West

Professor and Chair of Political Science and International Relations

State University of New York at Geneseo

2025 DCLI Cohort #2

Heejung

An

Professor and Department Chair, Department of Educational Leadership and Professional Studies

William Paterson University (NJ)

César

Barros A.

Associate Professor/Director, Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx Studies Program

State University of New York at New Paltz

Craig

Boylstein

Department Chair of Sociology and Criminal Justice; Associate Professor, Sociology

Coastal Carolina University (SC)

Jennifer

Chandler

Associate Professor and Chair of Biology

West Chester University (PA)

Ruth

Childs

Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Theatre and Music Studies

State University of New York at Brockport

Kathleen Colantonio-Yurko

Kathleen

Colantonio-Yurko

Associate Professor/Chair Human Development and Education

State University of New York at Brockport

Kristin

Conley

Department Chair and Professor, Interdisciplinary Studies Department

Ferris State University (MI)

Daphne M.

Cooper

Interim Department Chair, History and Political Science

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Shelly

Daily

Department Head of Nursing

Arkansas Tech University

Danielle

DeFauw

Department of Education Chair and Professor of Reading & Language Arts

University of Michigan – Dearborn

Gholamreza

Dehnavi

Department Chair and Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Megan

Edwards Collins

Program Chair, Occupational Therapy Department

Winston-Salem State University (NC)

Michael Figuccio

Michael

Figuccio

Associate Professor and Chair, Psychology

State University of New York at Farmingdale

Michael

Fraina

Associate Professor/Chairperson, Department of Sport Management

State University of New York at Farmingdale

Liang Fu

Liang

Fu

Chair, Department of Accounting and Finance

Oakland University (MI)

Sharon C. Furtak

Sharon C.

Furtak

Professor and Chair, Psychology

California State University Sacramento

Giordana

Grossi

Professor and Chair, Psychology Department

State University of New York at New Paltz

Heather N.

Hagan

Department Chair and Professor of Teacher Education

Coastal Carolina University (SC)

Kathleen

Kelley

Chair, Department of Theatre and Dance

Montclair State University (NJ)

Jamie K.

Lau

Chair, Biology

Radford University (VA)

Will LeSuer

Will

LeSuer

Chair of Department of Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation

University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Ometha O

Lewis-Jack

Chair, Department of Psychology

Bowie State University (MD)

Venugopal

Mendu

Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness and Environmental Sciences

Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Saad Merayyan

Saad

Merayyan

Professor and Chair, Department of Civil Engineering

California State University Sacramento

Radiah C.

Minor

Professor and Chair, Department of Animal Sciences

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Patricia

Morreale

Chair, Department of Computer Science and Technology

Kean University (NJ)

John

Obielodan

Chair, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Department

University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Deborah

Romero

Director, School of Teacher Education

University of Northern Colorado

Aparna

Sreenivasan

Professor and Chair, Department of Biology and Chemistry

California State University Monterey Bay

George N.

Ude

Chairperson, Department of Natural Sciences

Bowie State University (MD)

Patricia

Valverde

Associate Professor, MPH Campus Director of Colorado School of Public Health

University of Northern Colorado

Kimber

Wickersham

Department Head, Social Work

Jacksonville State University (AL)

Jesse

Willis

Professor of Music and Chair, Department of Music

Coastal Carolina University (SC)

Jung Ah (Claire)

Yun

Associate Professor/Associate Chair, Public Affairs and Criminal Justice

Kean University (NJ)

2024 DCLI Cohort #1

Jackie

Apodaca

Professor and Co-Chair of Theatre, Faculty Senate Chair

Southern Oregon University

Arne

Baruca

Chair, Management and Marketing Department at the College of Business

Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Maria Alessandra

Bollettino

Chair and Professor of the Department of History

Framingham State University (MA)

Lizabeth

Cain

Associate Professor, Department of Teaching and Learning

State University of New York at New Paltz

Cristóbal

Cardemil-Krause

Chair, Department of Languages and Cultures

West Chester University (PA)

Theresa B.

Clarke

Academic Unit Head and Professor of Marketing

James Madison University (VA)

Caress A.

Dean

Chair, Department of Public and Environmental Wellness and Master of Public Health Program Director

Oakland University (MI)

Dee

Fretwell

Chair, Senior Faculty, School of Business

Southern Oregon University

Anthony L.

Fulmore

Chair and Assistant Professor, Accounting and Finance Department

Texas A&M University-Central Texas

Robin

Gallaher

Chair and Associate Professor, Language, Literature, and Writing

Northwest Missouri State University

Larry

Gibbs

Chair, Healthcare Administration Program

Southern Oregon University

Denise

Gorsline

Chair, School of Communication and Journalism

Minnesota State University Moorhead

Jessica Loyet

Gracey

Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Humanities & Social Sciences

Northwest Missouri State University

Jacqueline J.

Hill

Chair, Department of Nursing

Bowie State University (MD)

Mehruz

Kamal

Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Computing Sciences

State University of New York at Brockport

Elizabeth P.

Karam

Academic Unit Head, Department of Management

James Madison University (VA)

Neelam

Khan

Department Chair of Physics and Pre-Engineering

Georgia Gwinnett College

Ji Young

Kim

Department Chair and Associate Professor of English

Fayetteville State University (NC)

David

Kirschner

Chair, Department of Human Services and Cultural Studies; Associate Professor of Sociology

Georgia Gwinnett College

Danielle T.

Ligocki

Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Teaching and Learning

Oakland University (MI)

Jesse

Longhurst

Chair and Associate Professor, Education

Southern Oregon University

Gerard

Madlambayan

Chair and Professor, Biological Sciences

Oakland University (MI)

Scott L.

Newbert

Chair and Professor, Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

City University of New York, Baruch College

Matthew

Pangborn

Chair and Professor, English

Georgia College & State University

Jeffrey

Pietruszynski

Chair, English Department

West Virginia State University

Jonathan D.

Raskin

Chair and Professor, Psychology

State University of New York at New Paltz

Rachna

Sadana

Chair and Professor, Department of Natural Sciences

University of Houston-Downtown (TX)

Marieke C.

Schilpzand

Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Management, International Business, and Business Communications

Georgia Gwinnett College

Kyle

Seifert

Academic Unit Head and Professor, Biology

James Madison University (VA)

Preety

Tripathi

Chair, Math Department

State University of New York at Oswego

Keaghan

Turner

Chair and Associate Professor, Digital Writing and Humanistic Studies

Coastal Carolina University (SC)

Michael

Waldman

Interim Chief Librarian

City University of New York, Baruch College

Jessica

Welsh

Chair and Instructor, Communication Disorders

State University of New York at New Paltz

Concetta A.

Williams

Chair, Department of English, Foreign Languages and Literatures, and Interdisciplinary Programs

Chicago State University (IL)

2024 DCLI Cohort #2

Elizabeth P.

Baltes

Chair, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

Coastal Carolina University (SC)

Amy

Bartholomew

Chair, Department of Physics and Astronomy

State University of New York at New Paltz

Christa

Beiker

Chair and Professor Allied Health Department

Fort Hays State University (KS)

Ivanete

Blanco

Department Chair and Professor of Graphic Design

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Gregory

Bray

Chair, Digital Media & Journalism

State University of New York at New Paltz

Krista D.

Bridgmon

Department Chair of Counseling Psychology

Colorado State University Pueblo

Rene

Burress

Associate Professor and Department Chair of Educational Technology & Library Science

University of Central Missouri

Leighann J.

Davidson

Assistant Professor and Chair of Criminal Justice

West Virginia State University

Tina Deshotels

Tina

Deshotels

Department Head Sociology and Political Science, Professor of Sociology

Jacksonville State University (AL)

David

Fieni

Associate Professor of French and Chair of the Department of World Languages and Literature

State University of New York at Oneonta

Jeanne

Galbraith

Interim Dean

State University of New York at Geneseo

Paula

Gordon

Interim Dean for the School of Health Sciences, Professor of Nursing

Georgia Gwinnett College

Danielle

Graham

Department Chair of Biological Sciences and Associate Professor

Fayetteville State University (NC)

Nicholas

Grosskopf

Professor and Department Chairperson, Department of Health & Human Performance

City University of New York, York College

Keely

Heuer

Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Art History

State University of New York at New Paltz

Kristina L.

Hillesland

Chair of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

University of Washington Bothell

Eric

Hungenberg

Department Head of Health and Human Performance

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Joe

Huscroft

Chair for the Marketing, Transportation and Supply Chain Department and Professor

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Deborah

James

Chair, Division of Arts and Letters

Governors State University (IL)

Manoj K.

Jha

Professor and Chair, Civil Architect & Environ Engineer

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Charlene M.

Kalenkoski

Academic Unit Head for the Department of Economics

James Madison University (VA)

Andrew Mazz

Marry

Chair of the Bioscience Department

Minnesota State University Moorhead

Dana

Nakano

Chair and Professor of Sociology

California State University, Stanislaus

Rachel

Rachler

Department Chair for Nurse Anesthesia Practice

Central Connecticut State University

Allison Rank

Allison D.

Rank

Associate Professor and Chair, Political Science

State University of New York at Oswego

Selena T.

Rodgers

Chairperson and Professor, Department of Social Work and Founding Director, MSW Program at CUNY York College

City University of New York, York College

Megan

Schoen

Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Writing and Rhetoric

Oakland University (MI)

Amy

Sheldon

Interim Dean, School of Arts & Sciences

State University of New York at Geneseo

Jitendra

Singh

Co-Chair, School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Minnesota State University Moorhead

Rhonda A.

Syler

Department Head and Associate Professor, CIS & Business Analytics

James Madison University (VA)

Dillon S.

Tatum

Department Chair, Department of Political Science and Geography

Francis Marion University (SC)

Evan

Trivedi

Associate Professor of Chemistry and Department Chair

Oakland University (MI)

Xia

Wang

Chair of Mechanical Engineering Department

Oakland University (MI)

Xiahua (Anny)

Wei

Associate Dean for Faculty

University of Washington Bothell

Learn more about the Department Chair Leadership Institute.

"*" indicates required fields