University News
Martinelli-Fernandez Named CAS Dean
April 12, 2010
MACOMB, IL – Susan Martinelli-Fernandez, College of Arts and Sciences interim dean at Western Illinois University, has been named the college's dean following a national search, effective July 1, according to WIU Provost and Academic Vice President Jack Thomas.
Martinelli-Fernandez has served as interim dean of the WIU College of Arts and Sciences since July 2009. She is also serving concurrently as associate dean, a position she has held since 2005. She is also a professor of philosophy, and has served as a faculty member in the philosophy and religious studies department since 1993.
Martinelli-Fernandez served as the interim associate director of Western's Centennial Honors College (2004-05). Prior to joining Western's faculty, she was an adjunct faculty member at the College of St. Francis (now University of St. Francis) (1988-89) and at Mundelein College (now Loyola University) (1988).
She has served as the chair and co-organizer of CLASS (Celebrating Liberal Arts and Sciences), a College of Arts and Sciences awareness committee. Under her leadership the group organized, and she moderated, the first panel discussion of the Dialogue series in which University and community leaders are brought together to discuss democracy and education.
With Martin Dupuis, then interim director of the Honors College, she co-designed Western's First Year Experience (FYE) initiative pilot program in the Honors College. FYE, a program designed to assist students transitioning from high school to college, became a part of Western's general education curriculum in May 2005.
"Dr. Martinelli-Fernandez brings outstanding academic credentials, experience and administrative leadership to the position," Thomas said. "I'd like to thank the search committee for their diligence and I look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Martinelli-Fernandez and college faculty and staff."
In Spring 2005, Martinelli-Fernandez received the College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching and was inducted into Western's chapter of Phi Kappa Phi honor society. She is also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and is an honorary faculty member of Western's Golden Key International Honour Society.
Martinelli-Fernandez has also served as co-director of Western's Program for the Study of Ethics and an executive board member of the International Society of Ethics Across the Curriculum.
"It is an honor and a privilege to serve as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences," Martinelli-Fernandez said. "I look forward to continue working with all members of the WIU community, especially with the College's talented chairs, faculty and staff who are committed to providing a quality liberal arts and sciences education to our students."
She earned her doctorate and master's degrees from the University of Chicago and her bachelor's degree from Mundelein College.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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