CS 3.2.8 The institution has qualified administrative and academic officers with the experience and competence to lead the institution. (Qualified administrative /academic officers)
In Compliance
Shenandoah University’s administrative and academic officers are highly qualified and capable to lead the institution. Each of these officers has an extensive record of administrative experience and strong academic credentials, as evidenced by the attached curriculum vita. The organizational chart details individual areas of responsibility and the reporting structure.
President
Dr. Tracy Fitzsimmons is the sixteenth president of Shenandoah University and has held this post since July 1, 2008. Previously, Dr. Fitzsimmons was Senior Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and professor of political science at Shenandoah. Her previous positions include dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Shenandoah and faculty leader at the University of Redlands, Redlands, California. President Fitzsimmons’ undergraduate degree in political science is from Princeton University, and her master’s and doctoral degrees are from Stanford University.
Vice Presidents
Dr. Adrienne Bloss is Vice President for Academic Affairs and has held this post since July 2013. Prior to her appointment at Shenandoah, Dr. Bloss was Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Institutional Relations, and professor of Computer Science and Mathematics at Roanoke College. Dr. Bloss holds the Ph.D. in Computer Science from Yale University, and was an American Council for Education (ACE) fellow.
Mr. Mitchell L. Moore is Vice President for Advancement and has held this post since March 2008. Prior to his appointment at Shenandoah, Mr. Moore was Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Bridgewater College, and has 30 years experience in development and advancement. He holds the Master of Public Administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Dr. Clarresa Moore Morton is Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success. She has held this post since 2011. Dr. Morton’s previous position was Vice President for Student Affairs, a position she held since 2004. Prior to joining Shenandoah University, she had 16 years of experience in student affairs and higher education, including posts at Virginia Tech. Dr. Morton has a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies from Virginia Tech.
Mr. Richard C. Shickle is Vice President for Administration and Finance. He has held this post since 1984. Mr. Shickle is credentialed as a Certified Public Accountant and had 10 years of finance experience prior to coming to Shenandoah University. He also serves as Chairman of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors, an elected position.
Dr. Rhonda Van Dyke Colby is Vice President for Student Life, a position she has held since 2010. Prior to that, Dr. Colby was Dean of Spiritual Life and co-director of the Institute for Church Professions, a position she held this post since its inception July 1, 2007. Prior to her appointment at Shenandoah University, she served as a pastor in several churches in the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. She holds the M.Div. from Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C. and a Doctor of Ministry from Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia.
Deans and Directors
Dr. Calvin H. Allen, Jr. is Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and has held this post since 2002. Dr. Allen also serves as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, a position he has held since 2008. He is also Professor of History and holds a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern history from University of Washington, Seattle. Prior to his arrival at Shenandoah, he was a professor of history at the University of Memphis from 1993 until 2002.
Dr. Miles Davis is Dean of the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business and Professor of Management, a position he has held since 2012. Prior to his appointment as dean, he was a faculty member and Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship in the School of Business. He holds a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Sciences from The George Washington University.
Dr. Michael Stepniak is Dean of Shenandoah Conservatory and Professor of Music, a position he has held since 2009. Prior to his arrival at Shenandoah, Dr. Stepniak was Associate Dean of Performing Arts at Adelphi University from 2006-2009. Dr. Stepniak holds the Master of Music in Performance from the Johns Hopkins University, the Master of Music in Music History from Northwestern, and the Doctor of Education from Harvard University.
Dr. Alan McKay is Dean of the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy. He is the Founding Dean, and has held this post since 1995. He has been on the faculty of Mercer University, the University of Maryland, and the University of Arkansas. Dr. McKay earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Health Care Administration from the University of Mississippi.
Dr. Timothy Ford is the Dean of the School of Health Professions, a post he has held since July 2014. Prior to his appointment at Shenandoah, Dr. Ford was Professor and Interim Dean at the Westbrook College of Health Professions, University of New England. Earlier, he had been Dean of Graduate Studies and Public Health at the University of New England. Dr. Ford holds the PhD in Aquatic Microbiology from the University of Wales, Bangor.
Dr. Kathryn Ganske is Dean of the Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing and Associate Professor, a position she has held since October 2012. Prior to that date, Dr. Ganske was Director of the Division of Nursing here at Shenandoah University since 2008. Previously she was Interim Director and a faculty member in the Division of Nursing. She holds a Ph.D. in nursing with a specialty in bioethics from the University of Virginia.
Mr. Demetrius Carmichael is Associate Vice President for Administration and Finance, a position he has held since July 2010. Prior to that date, Mr. Carmichael was Comptroller at Shenandoah University from 2007 – 2010. Mr. Carmichael is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an MBA from St. Thomas University in Florida. Prior to joining Shenandoah, he was Assistant Comptroller at Savannah State University in Georgia.
Mr. Andrew Woodall is Executive Director of Recruitment and Admissions, a position he has held since 2013. Prior to his appointment at Shenandoah, he was Director of Undergraduate Admissions at The Catholic University of America. He holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland – Baltimore.
Elizabeth White is the University Registrar, a position she has held since September 2013. Prior to that, she was Interim Registrar and Assistant Registrar from 2011 – 2013, and Coordinator for Research and Reports beginning in 2009. She holds the BA degree from UCLA.
Dr. Howard Ballentine is the Director of Institutional Research, a position he has held since February 2014. Prior to his arrival at Shenandoah, he was Dean of Enrollment Management at Wesley College in Delaware since 2011. From 1995 until 2011, he was Dean of Enrollment Management and Planning at Jefferson College of Health Sciences. He holds the Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech.
Mr. Barry Schnoor is Director of Physical Plant, a position he has held since May 2013. Prior to that, Mr. Schnoor was Director of Physical Plant at the Millbrook School in Millbrook, NY, from 2005 – 2013. From 2001 until 2005, he was Project Manager in Facilities Planning and Construction at the University of Virginia. He holds a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia.
Mr. Douglas Zipp is Director of Athletics, a position he has held since July 2012. Prior to his arrival at Shenandoah, he was Associate Director of Athletics at Kenyon College, and has held positions as Dean of Students and as Dean of Residential Life, also at Kenyon. Mr. Zipp holds a Masters degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Rochester.
Mr. Christopher Bean is Director of University Libraries, a position he has held since July 1989. Prior to that date he was Public Services Librarian at Sweet Briar College. He holds the MLS degree from the University of Rhode Island and the MA degree in history from Virginia Tech.
Supporting Documentation
CV-President
CV-VP Academic Affairs
CV-VP Enrollment Management
CV-VP Advancement
CV-VP Student Life
CV-VP Administration and Finance
CV-Assoc VP Administration and Finance
CV-Dean of Arts and Sciences
CV-Dean of Pharmacy
CV-Dean of Business
CV-Dean of Conservatory
CV-Dean of Nursing
CV-Dean of Health Professions
CV-Director of Institutional Research
CV-Athletic Director
CV-Director of Admissions
CV-Director of Library
CV-Physical Plant Director
CV-Registrar
Job Descriptions
President-job description
VP Academic Affairs Job Description
VP Enrollment Management and Student Success Job Description
VP Advancement Job Description
Vice President for Student Life Job Description
VP Admin and Finance Job Description
Associate VP Administration and Finance Job Description
Associate VP and Dean of A&S Job Description
Academic Dean General Position Description
Athletic Director Job Description
Executive Director of Admissions Job Description
Director of Institutional Research and Assessment Job Description
Registrar Job Description
Director Physical Plant Job Description
Director of Library Job Description