Tower-Winter-2018

WINTER 2018 | TOWER 11 SANTOS PROMOTED TO VICE PRESIDENT TWO NEW DEANS APPOINTED Dr. Michelle Kiec has been named dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Kutztown University. Kiec came to KU in 2012 as the associate dean of the college. She served as acting dean for the College of Education in 2016 and was named interim dean for the College of Visual and Performing Arts in June of this year after the retirement of Dr. William Mowder. Prior to her arrival in Kutztown, she spent nearly 12 years as an associate professor of music, department chair and coordinator of assessment and accreditation at the University of Mary, Bismarck, N.D. Kiec balances a career as a musician and administrator. She is a frequent conference presenter in the areas of curriculum development, enrollment management, student success and assessment. As a clarinetist, she has performed with the Harrisburg Symphony, West Virginia Symphony, Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and Opera Lancaster. Kiec earned a master’s degree and doctorate in clarinet performance at the Peabody Conservatory of Music of The Johns Hopkins University. She holds bachelor’s degree in saxophone performance and German from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. John Ward has been named dean of the College of Education at Kutztown University. He was appointed interim dean at KU in August. Ward comes to KU from Millersville University where he served as the interim associate dean of the College of Education and Human Services for the past two years. Ward began his career as an assistant professor at Millersville in 1998 after teaching for five years in the Detroit Public School District. He was promoted to associate professor in 2006 and then chair of the Educational Foundations Department in 2007. He is on the board of directors of the Pa. Association of Colleges of Teacher Education and regularly serves on site visit teams with the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Ward holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in special education from the University of Detroit. He earned a doctorate in education from the University of Memphis. Dr. Michelle Kiec Dr. JohnWard Dr. Kenneth Hawkinson, president, Kutztown University, has named Matt Santos vice president of Communications, Marketing and External Affairs. In this position, Santos will be responsible for the overall guidance of a diverse division that encompasses University Relations, University Marketing, Conference Services, Intercollegiate Athletics, Sports Medicine, KU Presents!, Kutztown University Radio, Recreational Services and the Pa. German Cultural Heritage Center. Santos has been the director of University Relations since 2007. In his position he serves as the university spokesperson and is responsible for public relations, media relations, executive communications, university licensing and crisis communications. He was chair of the award-winning KU Sesquicentennial Celebration in 2016. Santos began his career with KU in 1992 as the sports information director for athletics. In 1998 he was promoted to director of athletic advancement before being promoted to assistant director of University Relations in 2006. Santos is credited with the creation of the school’s current mascot, Avalanche the Golden Bear, in 2005. He has experience in all levels of communication and fundraising at the university. Prior to KU, Santos held positions in sports information at both Lincoln and Delaware State Universities. He has also hosted a variety of television and radio programs and is the radio voice of Golden Bear Football. Santos, a native of Scranton, Pa., holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, and a master’s degree in electronic media from Kutztown University. He is a graduate of Thomas McKean High School, Wilmington, Del. Matt SantosM’03