By Jacqueline Arroyo / Jambar Contributor
Students in the Williamson College of Business Administration and Dr. Dominic A. and Helen M. Bitonte College of Health and Human Services should expect leadership changes.
Currently, neither college has a permanent dean, but both have interim deans in place.
Sara Michaliszyn, previously the associate dean of BCHHS, is serving as its interim dean following the retirement of Jeffery Allen, who served as dean for four years. There are many reasons she accepted the role, but one contributing factor was the convenience of the location.
“Allen left June 12, and June 13 is the date it was made official,” Michaliszyn said. “It really is that simple. My office was right there and he’s here, literally the next person in line.”
She and Allen worked closely together, so the position change happened naturally.
Michaliszyn noted there is no significant difference from associate dean to interim dean except an added-connection.
“Connecting the University or college to benefactors or alumni, or alumni to our college, or students to our programs and programs to students,” Michaliszyn said.
While expressing her appreciation for this new responsibility, Michaliszyn also said she’d serve as interim dean for no longer than a year.
A new dean is expected to start in August 2025.
As interim dean, she will not have a say in selecting the new dean, but thinks that knowing when to lead and when not to lead is what makes a good dean.
At the WCBA, the interim dean is Betty Jo Licata, who retired from YSU in 2021 after more than 26 years as dean.
Kelly Wilkinson, the former dean of Williamson, left for a position at the School of Business and Economics at Indiana University East. Her last day was July 12.
“I started on July 15,” Licata said. “When Provost [Jennifer] Pintar called and asked if I would consider coming back for a year as the interim dean, I was more than happy to come back and do what I could to help the college move forward.”
As the interim dean, she works with the faculty and staff to achieve the college’s strategic goals.
Licata noted that this year’s activities and priorities are focused on enhancing students’ educational and professional development, while also bringing value to the business community.
Licata said she believes there are certain qualities the new dean should possess.
“To be an effective dean, you need to have a variety of experiences within a college of business to have had those leadership experiences, to understand what the priorities of the college are,” Licata said.
Provost Jennifer Pintar was the one who reached out to Licata and asked her to return. The provost is the chief academic officer of the university and is responsible for overseeing the Office of Academic Affairs.
“Regarding the dean position for the Williamson College of Business Administration, that search is on hold for the time being,” Pintar stated. “Our priority is to first focus on filling the associate provost position.”
Pintar works with the deans and academic support staff from the various colleges to determine academic strategy and priorities.
Once the associate provost and BCHHS positions are filled, they will turn their attention to the WCBA position.
Although Michaliszyn was unaware of the status of the BCHHS position, it is currently moving through human resources and is expected to be posted soon.