DECATUR, Ill. – Dr. Elizabeth Gephart, and Associate Professor, has been appointed Interim Dean of the College of Professional Studies (CPS) at ǿý University, effective July 1, 2023.
The previous Dean of the , Dr. Pamela Lindsey, retired at the end of the 2021-22 academic year, and the position was vacant for the 2022-23 academic year. The position’s duties were shared among the three directors of the school: Gephart, Director of the Dr. Chris Cunnings and Director of the Dr. Barbara Broadbear.
“I am very excited to start this new position as the Interim Dean for the College of Professional Studies. Over the past year, Chris Cunnings, Barb Broadbear, and myself have shared the job, overloading all of us with our expanded array of duties,” Gephart said. “Now I will be able to focus solely on the needs of CPS, and I have started meeting with each School and determining the needs of each and where those needs overlap.”
Cunnings and Broadbear will continue as Director of the School of Education and Director of Exercise Science and Sport, respectively.
“I cannot express sufficiently my gratitude and appreciation for the outstanding work of our tri-deans over the last year. All three school directors have proven themselves as outstanding leaders and collaborators,” ǿý Provost Mary Black said. “I’m confident that Elizabeth has the skills and qualities necessary to move the college forward and to build strategic partnerships.”
Big things are planned for CPS during the 2023-24 academic year, including the construction of the School of Nursing’s new Campbell Family Nursing Simulation Lab.
“In the School of Nursing, a major focus this coming year is the construction of the new facility in our Health Science Center at the corner of Wood and Oakland. Construction is scheduled to start Aug. 7 and estimated to be complete by the end of 2023,” Gephart said. “The School of Exercise Science and Sports will expand to include a new Masters in Athletic Training using a 3+2 plan where students do their first three years as undergraduates and then transition to a two-year master’s program.
“The Dean’s position will allow me to focus internally on each school and build strong relationships in our communities here in Central Illinois. We will increase our working relationships with community colleges, build partnerships with school districts for both recruitment of students and student teaching opportunities and create partnerships for athletic training opportunities.”
