Senior VP and Academic Dean Karan Powell Succeeds Dr. Frank McCluskey as Provost; Security and Global Studies Dean Gwendolyn Hall Assumes New Role as VP and Academic Operations Officer
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va., Jul 28, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- American Public University System (APUS) today announced the appointment of two veteran academic officials to new senior management roles in support of its continuing growth and commitment to excellence in online education. Senior VP and Academic Dean Karan Powell will succeed long-time Provost Dr. Frank McCluskey, now VP and scholar-in-residence, and School of Security and Global Studies Dean Gwendolyn Hall will assume the newly-created position of VP and academic operations officer, effective August 1, 2011.
Dr. Powell was appointed to the APUS Board of Trustees in 2002, named interim chancellor in 2004 and has served in her current role as academic dean since 2005. She has played a central role in the university's national, regional and specialty accreditation efforts, program development, and faculty recruitment and development, and will report to APUS President & CEO Dr. Wallace E. Boston.
"Dr. Powell's contributions have been instrumental in assisting APUS to assume a leadership position in online higher education," said Boston. "We are indeed fortunate to have someone with her credentials to help maintain the strong momentum established by Dr. McCluskey toward enhancing our academic reputation and achieving superior learning outcomes for our students."
In addition to her management responsibilities, Dr. Powell has also represented APUS as a peer consultant-evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission, as a member of the Higher Education Resource Services Board, as a special interest group co-chair with the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies, and as a frequent presenter at industry forums. She previously oversaw executive and organizational development programs for Georgetown University, served as VP and chief learning officer for American Management Systems, taught for several Washington, DC-area universities and managed her own consulting business, Powell & Associates.
Dr. Gwendolyn Hall joined APUS in 2005 as chair, department of homeland security and transportation & logistics management, and was appointed dean, school of security and global studies, in 2007. She had a distinguished military career, including serving at the US Air Force Academy in various roles ranging from professor and associate dean to commander and director of operations, dean of the faculty.
"Dr. Hall embodies our commitment to delivering a quality education from real-world scholars widely-recognized in their fields of expertise," said Powell. "She has been a significant asset in the ongoing enhancement of not only our security and global studies programs, but also of our overall academic best practices. I'm honored to serve in my new role as provost, and to have her additional guidance in helping manage the evolving strategic and administrative needs of our institution."
About American Public University System
American Public University System, winner of the Sloan Consortium's 2009 Ralph E. Gomory Award for Quality Online Education and consecutive two-time recipient of Sloan's Effective Practices Award (2009 & 2010), offers 79 online degree programs through American Public University and American Military University. APUS's relevant curriculum, affordability and flexibility help more than 90,000 working adults worldwide pursue degrees in subjects ranging from homeland security to management and liberal arts. For further information* on APUS, please visit www.apus.edu.
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* For more about our graduation rates, median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information--visit www.APUS.edu/disclosure.
SOURCE: American Public University System (APUS)
American Public University System
Brian Muys, 703-334-3225
bmuys@apus.edu