Dr. Lesa Breeding has been appointed to serve as executive director of the Adams Center beginning June 1. Breeding serves as dean of the College of Education and Human Services, a position she has held since its creation six years ago.
“Any professional worth their salt should ask themselves whether or not they’ve done their job and how well they’ve done it,” Breeding said. “I think I’ve done the job that I came to do.”
Dr. John Weaver, dean of library and educational technologies and chair of the search committee, offered Breeding the position in the Adams Center. Breeding said she wants to fill a particular need at the Adams Center.
“One of the things I learned about myself in doing this is that one of my gifts is an ability to re-imagine organizations, to get them started and going,” Breeding said.
Dr. Greg Straughn, interim provost, believes this to be a great chance to use Breeding’s gifts of leadership and education for the whole campus.
“I believe she’s a very collaborative academic leader,” Straughn said. “Seeing that she helped found the College of Education and Human Services, which didn’t exist before she was dean, I think the Adams Center will benefit from her expertise.”
Dwayne Harapnuik, former director of faculty enrichment in the Adams Center, left last summer for a position as assistant provost at Concordia University College of Alberta in Canada, and Dr. Nancy Shankle now serves as interim director. Weaver and seven professors from each college began the search in January, hoping to fill the spot by the end of the calendar year.
Straughn looks forward to Breeding’s influence on the Adams Center.
“I think it will be helpful for the Adams Center to look at where to go from here,” Straughn said. “Are we going to continue doing all the same kinds of things that we’ve done or do we want to launch into a different area? I’m anxious to see what will happen.”
Other changes in leadership roles on campus are expected soon. The search for interim deans to fill the College of Biblical Studies and the College of Arts and Sciences. Straughn did not say whether Breeding’s position would be filled with an interim or permanent appointment.
“I know that conversations have been happening with the academic chairs in both the College of Biblical Studies and Arts and Sciences,” Straughn said. “Dr. Schubert is very close to being able to make an announcement.”
