Staff and faculty changes in various offices coming this fall

by commentnewspaper

By Marissa Bean

Although this academic year has not ended just yet, there are numerous staff and faculty changes coming to Bridgewater State University this fall.

The Student Affairs Office will include some new faces next semester, but one of the most prominent staff member in the office will be absent.

Jason Pina, current Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, will be leaving the university to begin a similar job at Ohio University.

Pina has worked at BSU since 2012 and has overseen a variety of projects on campus.

The Student Affairs Office oversaw the creation of the Office of New Student and Family Programs, as well as the opening of both Weygand Hall and the Welcome Center, according to an email from President Frederick Clark regarding Pina’s departure.

The university has not yet begun the process of finding a permanent replacement for Pina.

In the meantime, Margaret Jablonski has been appointed as interim vice president, pending approval of the Board of Trustees.

Jablonski has served on the external review committee for the redesign of the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.

She also previously worked at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill as the vice chancellor for student affairs.

The final addition of the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management is Denine Rocco. Rocco will serve as the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management and Dean of Students beginning June 20.

Rocco previously worked at the University of Cincinnati, the University of Akron, and the University of Pittsburgh.

Additionally, the Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics will have a new dean beginning on July 1.

Kristen Porter-Utley will take over the position following the retirement of current dean Arthur Goldstein.

Goldstein, who has served as dean since 2010, retired earlier this month.

Rita Miller, associate dean for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, will serve as the interim dean until June 30.

Porter-Utley comes to BSU from Keene State in New Hampshire, where she served as the Associate Dean of Sciences and Director of the Building Excellence in Science and Technology Program, according to Clark’s email.

Marissa Bean is the editor-in-chief of The Comment.

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