Dianne Lynch, who has served since 2004 as dean of the Roy H. Park School of Communications, has accepted an offer to become the 24th president of Stephens College. Located in Columbia, Missouri, Stephens College was founded in 1833 and is the second-oldest women's college in the nation. Lynch will take office on June 2.
"Serving as the dean of the Park School has been a real privilege," said Lynch. "It is a community of engaged faculty and dedicated staff, working together to create an exceptional learning environment for our students. I have always aspired to help establish in Park what I call 'a culture of yes' -- a place where we say yes to new ideas, innovative approaches, and new paradigms of teaching and learning. I think we've made real progress on that goal over the past few years."
During Lynch's five-year tenure as dean, the Park School developed new interdisciplinary degree programs in gaming design and immersive Media, and documentary studies and production; established the endowed Park Center for Independent Media, a national think tank for the exploration of new models of news and information in a digital age; brought to the curriculum a series of some two dozen one-credit minicourses taught by full-time faculty to provide opportunities for all Park students to develop skills across media platforms and disciplines; and established the Park Partnerships Program, which pairs graduating seniors with successful alumni during the spring semester.
"Dean Lynch has been a creative, energetic, and innovative leader," said Kathleen Rountree, provost and vice president for academic affairs. "During her time here, the Park School has increased in diversity of programming and in interactions with national figures in communications. She has represented Ithaca College in an exceptional manner in national forums and associations. She will be missed by students and colleagues alike."
Stephens College currently enrolls approximately 750 undergraduates, with about 370 adult students in its Division of Graduate and Continuing Studies. The Stephens curriculum focuses on hands-on, intensive programs in the performing arts, fashion, and equestrian studies as well as a quickly growing film production program.
You can read about the Stephens College presidential search at www.stephens.edu.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20090421122325392