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Kyle Mayborn will serve as the interim dean for the College of Humanities, Arts, Sciences, and Education (CHASE).
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Tawnya Adkins Covert will serve as Associate Dean for Budget, Personnel, and Strategic Planning, Keith Boeckelman will serve as Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Assessment, and Student Success, and Katrina Daytner will be the director of the Education Preparation Center.
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Introducing: College of Humanities, Arts, Sciences, and Education

July 7, 2026

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL - - As part of Western Illinois University's transition to a two college system on Wednesday, July 1, the new College of Humanities, Arts, Sciences, and Education (CHASE) builds on Western's proud tradition of preparing future educators and will offer new opportunities to combine creativity, scientific inquiry, and interdisciplinary learning.

The interim CHASE Dean Kyle Mayborn will be assisted by Associate Dean for Budget, Personnel, and Strategic Planning Tawnya Adkins Covert, Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Assessment, and Student Success Keith Boeckelman, and Director of Educator Preparation Katrina Daytner.

"I'm excited to work with Associate Deans Adkins Covert and Boeckelman, and Director Daytner at the initiation of the College of Humanities, Arts, Sciences, and Education," Mayborn said. "This is an important moment for our students, directors, faculty and staff and I look forward to working with everyone to establish a strong foundation for the College's future."

Adkins Covert joined WIU in 2000 as an assistant professor of sociology, and has served as the Sociology and Anthropology department chair since 2020. She will help lead the College's fiscal stewardship, personnel coordination, strategic planning efforts, operational effectiveness and compliance with university policies and reporting requirements.

Boeckelman joined WIU in 1998 as an assistant professor of Political Science and has since held several leadership roles. Most recently, he served as associate dean over the College of Arts and Sciences. He also served as chair for WIU's Political Science Department from 2020-22, and as interim chair of the History Department from 2019-21. As associate dean, he will provide leadership for academic program development, curriculum oversight, assessment activities and initiatives designed to strengthen recruitment, retention, advising and experiential learning opportunities across the College.

Daytner joined WIU's faculty in 2001 and most recently served as Associate Dean for Educator Preparation, Budget, Facilities, and Technology in the College of Education and Human Services. She has served as a professor in the educational and interdisciplinary studies department, with primary teaching responsibilities in the area of educational psychology, methods research and clinical observations in human growth and development. As Director of Educator Preparation, She will coordinate educator preparation and licensure initiatives across the University, ensuring students are prepared for educator licensure, as well as provide leadership for entities including the Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood Education and the Office of Teacher Education.

CHASE will house five new schools:


  • School of Education - Jim LaPrad, director

  • School of Humanities - Timothy Roberts, director

  • School of Natural Sciences - Samuel Thompson, director

  • School of Social Sciences - Gregory Baldi, director

  • School of Visual and Performing Arts - Tammy Killian, director


Together, these schools create an academic community where collaboration strengthens teaching, research, creative activity, and educator preparation. Students will benefit from expanded opportunities to learn across disciplines while gaining the knowledge and experiences needed to succeed in their chosen professions. The university's new Goldfarb Center for Performing Arts will further elevate opportunities for students and faculty in the performing arts, serving as a dynamic space for performance, learning, and community engagement. Combined with Western's longstanding tradition of preparing future educators, CHASE is well positioned to serve the educational, cultural, and workforce needs of Illinois and the surrounding region for years to come.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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