Ashland University Faculty Members Receive Promotions, Tenure
A number of Ashland University faculty members have received promotions and/or tenure following the action of the Ashland University Board of Trustees. The promotions are to take effect on July 1, the beginning of the institution’s 2010-2011 academic year.
Those promoted to the rank of full professor include Dr. Darren Wick, mathematics; Dr. Ron Blackley, music; Dr. David Lifer, accounting/MIS; and Dr. Judy Alston, education. Gaining promotion to associate professor are Dr. Jennifer Rathbun, foreign languages; Dr. Peter Slade, religion; Dr. Cathryn Chappell, educational foundations; and Dr. Deanna Romano, curriculum and instruction.
Tenure was granted to Rathbun and Chappell as well as Dr. David Fitzsimmons, assistant professor of English.
Wick, who serves as chair of the department of mathematics and computer science, came to Ashland University from Millsaps College in 2000. He holds a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from Purdue University, a master of science degree in mathematics from Utah State University and a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Oregon. He received tenure and promotion to associate professor in 2004.
Blackley has been a faculty member at Ashland since 1997 and serves as director of choral activities, directing the Choir and the Ashland Area Community Chorus. Blackley holds a bachelor of science degree in music education from Concordia College, a master of music degree in choral music education from the Glauser School of Music at Kent State University and a doctor of musical arts degree in literature and performance of choral music from the University of Colorado. He gained promotion to associate professor in 2003.
Lifer joined the Ashland University faculty in 1985. He holds degrees from Ashland University (bachelor of science and MBA) and The Ohio State University (A.A.S and Ph.D.) Dr. Lifer’s teaching and research interests are in the areas of technologically mediated social networks, online learning environments and curriculum development. He was promoted to associate professor in 1993.
Alston serves as the director of the doctoral program in Ashland’s Schar College of Education. She came to Ashland in 2007 from Widener University, where she served as associate professor and associate dean/director of the Center for Education. She previously served as a faculty member at Bowling Green State University and the University of Houston. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in English from Winthrop College, master of education degrees in secondary education and educational administration from the University of South Carolina, and Ph.D. in educational administration from Pennsylvania State University.
Rathbun, who teaches Spanish, has a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona as well as master of arts and bachelor of arts degrees from Wichita State University. Originally from Wichita, Kan., she most recently worked as a senior lecturer for the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Ohio State University. She is a translator and specialist of U.S.-Mexico border literature.
Slade teaches courses in the History of Christianity and Christian Thought. He received a doctorate degree in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia. Prior to studying at the University of Virginia, Slade earned a master of arts in Southern Studies from the University of Mississippi and a bachelor’s with Honors in Christian Ethics and Practical Theology from St. Andrews University, Scotland. He also studied community work at Ruskin College, Oxford. Slade's scholarship and teaching is grounded in his work and life in the Church.
Chappell joined Ashland University in 2004 after serving as serving as a visiting assistant professor at the University of Akron from 2001 to 2004 and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Cincinnati from 1998 to 2001. Her areas of expertise include education, peace and social issues. She earned her bachelor of arts in art and M.Ed., and Ed.D.in educational foundations from the University of Cincinnati.
Romano joined Ashland University in 2000. Her areas of expertise include educational technology, distance education and instructional design. Dr. Romano serves as a faculty senator and faculty senate representative to the University Curriculum Committee. She has a bachelor of science and master of science degrees in Education from Cleveland State University and a doctor of education degree in Instructional Technology and Distance Education from Nova Southeastern University.
Fitzsimmons, a former high school English teacher, directs the Integrated Language Arts program at Ashland University. He has a bachelor of arts degree in English from Xavier University and a master of arts and Ph.D. in English from The Ohio State University. Besides his background in language arts pedagogy, Dr. FitzSimmons specializes in narrative theory, American Literature, modernism, and the works of William Faulkner. In addition, he researches and produces visual texts, working as a freelance writer and photographer.
Ashland University is a mid-sized, private institution conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.
