Campbellsville University announces administrative changes

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Dr. Keith Spears' new title is new vice president for communication and assistant to the president at Campbellsville University.

CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY (03/01/2016)(readMedia)-- Campbellsville University President Michael V. Carter has announced several administrative organizational changes at the university.

The reorganization plan is creating a more efficient flow chart for areas associated with Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) and communication within and outside the university.

"Our administrative changes are the result of our looking at the organization and the impact that several retirements and resignations are having on the administrative services of Campbellsville University," Carter, who is in his 17th year at the university, said.

"We are pleased that Dr. H. Keith Spears, who has been our GPS vice president, is willing to step up to broader supervision, assuming new duties while providing oversight to the GPS areas," he said.

Spears, whose new title is vice president for communication and assistant to the president, is in his seventh year with the university. He has been stationed at the Louisville Education Center; his new office will be in the president's suite on the main campus.

"I am excited about the future of Campbellsville University," Spears said. "It truly was a calling that led me here and now I see greater evidence of things that are unfolding. It is humbling to say the least."

Giving the administration a more streamlined look has several changes taking place in a semester of transition during which Dr. John Chowning, a vice president and former Board of Trustees member and chair, has retired. Chowning worked with the university 26 years and is continuing part time as executive assistant to the president for government, community and constituent relations.

The changes include the following in several areas:

Marcus Stanfield, a 10-year employee, has been appointed interim director for the Center for International Education. An associate director for the past several years, Stanfield steps into the role recently vacated by Dennis Paiva, who received an appointment to the State Treasurer's Office.

"We are pleased that Marcus has prepared himself well for this moment," Spears said. "Clearly, he has shown his worth as an assistant director and now can help the university through this delicate period."

It is anticipated that the need for English language skills and the ability to teach English for international students will increase. Seeking to give focus to departments of English as a Second Language (ESL), Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) and Master's in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA-TESOL), the areas will come under one administrator.

Andrea Giordano, associate director for ESL, former athlete and 5-year faculty member, assumes the interim executive directorship of all three program areas.

"We have a very powerful international attraction at Campbellsville University," Spears said.

"It is my hope that we will be able to provide greater emphasis in the language skills needed for our international students to succeed. Professor Giordano has the skill, experience and tenacity to bring all of this together."

The surge in online education is reflected in greater numbers of graduate students taking full programs. This has resulted in the assimilation graduate recruitment with online education.

Both the Center of Distance Education (CIE) and Graduate Recruitment move under the administration of CIE dean, Dr. Shane Garrison, a 7-year faculty member, who was named online dean this academic year.

"The two departments have been closely associated, often working in tandem. It makes perfect sense that we join forces," Garrison said.

"The number of online programs and students in both graduate and undergraduate arenas continue to grow. I look forward to seeing this area of the university move to the next level."

Monica Bamwine, a 15-year staff member, will continue to direct graduate recruitment.

Communication is becoming a more integrated part of the university mission, Carter said. The Office of University Communications will report to the new vice president, corresponding with the Office of Broadcast Services, which is already an area of GPS.

"It is essential that these two areas coordinate their activities," Spears said. "The world is connected by communication and these areas of the university have the greatest capacity to share the message of Campbellsville University to its many constituents.

"We have great people who have sacrificed greatly this year to bring about excellence in our broadcast programs and publications."

The two departments will coordinate with the vice president's office. Jeannie Clark, an 8-year employee, is the general manager for the Office of Broadcast Services, which operates the university's two FCC Class A stations, WLCU-FM and WLCU-TV.

Joan McKinney, a 35-year staff member in communications, has been named the coordinating director for the Office of University Communications. McKinney will manage the public relations projects that will culminate from joint operations of University Communications and Broadcast Services.

Other areas of GPS will continue to conduct business as in the past. Regional center directors and Virginia Ponser Flanagan Technology Training Center staff will continue to report to Spears in his new position.

"We appreciate the entire quality faculty and staff who have taken up the challenges during this critical time of our university," Carter said.

"We look for every opportunity to be more productive for our students and the programs in which they study while gaining a new level of efficiency. We appreciate everyone who is carrying the mission of servant leadership into action."

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering over 80 programs of study including 24 master's degrees, seven postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.

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