Columbus State announces various reorganizations, leadership appointments and relocations

August 4, 2023

With the start of the 2023-24 academic year, Columbus State University has made a series of academic and administrative leadership appointments, as well as physically and administratively relocated some of its departments and units.

“The motivation behind many of these changes is to better serve our students, make better use of university facilities and to benefit from operational and teaching efficiencies. This is especially true where disciplines or subject matter complement one another and both faculty and staff in those areas can enhance collaboration,” explained Dr. Pat McHenry, interim provost and executive vice president.

The following university-, college- and academic-level changes are currently in effect now or will be implemented at the start of the fall semester:

OFFICE OF THE PROVOST & EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies Program

The B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies program will now report to the Honors College dean, Dr. Cindy Ticknor, with advising based in the college's Main Campus’ Illges Hall headquarters.

Career Center

The Career Center has relocated to the second floor of the Main Campus’ Schuster Student Success Center from its previous Arnold Hall location.

Center for Global Engagement

The Center for Global Engagement has moved from the first floor to the second floor of the Main Campus’ Schuster Student Success Center.

Center of Online Learning

The Center of Online Learning has relocated to 100 Tucker Hall on the Main Campus from its previous Schuster Student Success Center location. It now aligns administratively with the Faculty Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning.

Faculty Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning

The Faculty Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning has relocated to Main Campus’ Tucker Hall from its previous location in Illges Hall.

COLLEGE OF THE ARTS

Department of Communication

The Department of Communication has relocated to One Arsenal Place on the RiverPark Campus from Carpenters Hall.

D. ABBOTT TURNER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

The Turner College has appointed Dr. Tesa Leonce, who previously served as department chair and associate professor in the Department of Accounting & Finance, as the college’s new associate dean.

Department of Accounting & Finance

Dr. Gisung Moon, an associate professor, has been appointed department chair of the Department of Accounting & Finance.

COLLEGE OF LETTERS & SCIENCES

Department of Earth & Space Sciences

Dr. Troy Keller will serve as the new chair of the Department of Earth & Space Sciences.

Department of History, Philosophy & Geography

The university has realigned its Philosophy program with the Department of History & Geography to form the new Department of History, Philosophy & Geography. History and Geography faculty and staff have relocated to Main Campus’ Arnold Hall from their previous location in One Arsenal Place on the  RiverPark Campus. Philosophy faculty and staff have relocated to Arnold Hall from their previous location in Shannon Hall.

Dr. Bryan Banks will serve as the new head of the department.

School of Policy, Justice & Public Safety

The new School of Policy, Justice & Public Safety in the College of Letters & Sciences includes the Command College, Criminal Justice, Political Science and Public Administration.

Dr. Kimberly Gill, who has served as department chair of the Department of Politics, Philosophy & Public Administration, will lead the newly formed school.

Department of Psychology

Dr. Jonathan Meyers, who serves as an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and as the college’s assistant dean, will now concurrently serve as interim chair of the Department of Psychology.

Department of Society, Culture & Languages

A new Department of Society, Culture & Languages has formed to include the university’s Anthropology, Foreign Languages and Sociology programs. It will continue to remain headquartered in Shannon Hall.

Dr. Joelle Bonamy, who has served as department chair for the Department of Modern & Classical Languages, will lead the newly formed department.

RESEARCH & GRADUATE STUDIES

Research & Graduate Studies personnel have relocated to the RiverPark Campus’ Frank D. Brown Hall.

Dr. Yesem Kurt-Peker, a professor in the TSYS School of Computer Science, has been appointed interim director of Graduate Studies — reporting to Dr. Margie Yates, dean of research and graduate studies.

COLUMBUS STATE LIBRARIES

Art Library

The Art Library now falls under the auspices of the Columbus State University Libraries.

ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

Military-Connected Student Services

The Office of Military Enrollment has been renamed Military-Connected Student Services and has moved from University Hall to the first floor of Main Campus’ Schuster Student Success Center.

Media Contact:
Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu