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Academic Leadership Profiles

Dr. Daniel Engstrom

Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

engstrom@pennwest.edu

As PennWest’s chief academic officer, Engstrom is responsible for assisting the president in achieving the mission, vision, and values of the university. He serves as a strategic leader for the Academic Affairs division through collaboration with other university divisions, serving as a university representative at functions with external constituents and organizations, and creating community relationships.

Education

  • E.D.D. in Instructional Leadership, Duquesne University
  • M.E.D. in Career and Technology Education, Bowling Green State University
  • B.S. in Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education, Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Dr. James Fisher

Senior Associate Provost for Academic Administration

jdfisher@pennwest.edu

Before his appointment as associate provost, Fisher spent more than 20 years as a professor of politics and legal studies at Edinboro, including six years as chair of the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice. He also served as PennWest’s interim dean for the college of social sciences and human services, Edinboro's associate provost, and Edinboro’s interim provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • J.D., William & Mary Law School
  • B.A. in Political Science, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Thomas Wickham

Associate Provost for Curriculum and Faculty Development

wickham@pennwest.edu

Wickham moved to his current role after serving as associate dean of PennWest’s College of Natural Sciences and Engineering Technology. A faculty member at California for 20 years, he also served as interim assistant dean of Cal U’s Eberly College of Science and Technology from 2020-2022.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Parks and Recreation, Penn State University
  • M.S. in Recreation and Parks, minor in public administration, West Virginia University
  • B.S. in Parks and Recreation, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Yugo Ikach

Associate Vice President of Graduate Programs and Online Education

ikach@pennwest.edu

Ikach leads the Graduate Council facilitating graduate program success. In addition, he manages Graduate Assistantships. Working closely with the Academic Deans, Student Outreach and Success, Center for Faculty Excellence, Enrollment, Marketing, and the Instructional Design team he ensures the online learner is provided the support needed for success. He advises the Provost on agreements and policies that directly relate to graduate and online programs.

Education

  • D.M.A in Music, West Virginia University
  • M.M. in Music, Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University
  • B.F.A. in Music, Carnegie-Mellon University

Dr. Shayne Gervais

Associate Vice President for Academic Services and University Registrar

gervais@pennwest.edu

Leveraging both domestic and international experience in higher education, Dr. Gervais is responsible for advising and providing guidance in the Office of the Provost and directly to the Provost. Additionally, he provides leadership for the Office of the Registrar regarding a range of items that relate both directly and indirectly to academic issues and challenges. These items include overseeing the university catalog, curriculum, degree audit, registration, schedule, student academic records, graduation and transfer articulation.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration, University of Alabama
  • M.A. in Higher Education Administration, University of Alabama
  • B.A. in Psychology, Laurentian University

Dr. Brenda Fredette

Dean, College of Science, Technology and Business.

fredette@pennwest.edu

As PennWest’s chief academic officer, Fredette is responsible for assisting the president in achieving the mission, vision, and values of the university. She serves as a strategic leader for the Academic Affairs division through collaboration with other university divisions, serving as a university representative at functions with external constituents and organizations, and creating community relationships.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Biochemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo
  • Ed.M. in Chemistry Education, SUNY Buffalo
  • B.S. in Biology, Daemen University

Dr. Mary Paniccia-Carden

Dean, College of Education, Arts and Humanities

mpcarden@pennwest.edu

Before being named interim dean of the College of Education, Arts and Humanities, Carden was a faculty member at Edinboro for 20 years. During that time she served for eight years as chair of the Department of English and Philosophy, and she was twice named Scholar of the Year. Carden, who previously taught at SUNY Binghamton and Southeastern Oklahoma State University, is the author of two books and co-editor of a third; a second collection of co-edited essays is under contract.

Education

  • Ph.D. in English, State University of New York at Binghamton
  • M.A. in English, State University ofNew York at Binghamton
  • B.A. in Speech Communication and English Writing, State University of New York College at Geneseo

Dr. Deborah Kelly

Dean, Health Sciences and Human Services

dkelly@pennwest.edu

Before her appointment as dean, Kelly was a faculty member in Clarion's Department of Nursing for 18 years. During her career at Clarion, she served as department chair and nursing administrator, and she oversaw five programs that spanned the nursing career ladder from the associate to the doctoral level, including Clarion's in-person A.S.N. and B.S.N. degrees and online R.N.-B.S.N., M.S.N. and D.N.P. programs. Kelly also is a certified hospice and palliative care administrator.

Education

  • D.N.P in Nursing Practice, University of Pittsburgh
  • M.S.N. in Nursing, University of Pittsburgh
  • B.S.N. in Nursing, Clarion University of Pennsylvania