South University welcomes Dean of Academic Affairs to West Palm Beach
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
South University announced today the appointment of Jeffrey B. Willens, Ph.D., to the position of Dean of Academic Affairs and Operations at the West Palm Beach campus. He brings more than 35 years of experience in higher education, both as a faculty member, serving as a tenured professor of English, and as a senior administrator at regionally accredited universities throughout the United States. Most recently, he taught English and ESOL at Toussaint L’Ouverture Charter High School in Boynton Beach, Fla. and served as an academic administrator at Keiser University in West Palm Beach.
As Dean of Academic Affairs and Operations, Dr. Willens will supervise and develop faculty, manage operations, ensure academic policies and processes are consistently applied, and oversee campus initiatives, including the emphasis of critical thinking as a vibrant aspect of every South University student’s educational experience. He is also responsible for ensuring South University operates in compliance with all academic regulations as determined on the national, state and regional levels.
He will report to President David McGuire and serve on the campus’s Executive Committee. “In his short time here, Dr. Willens has already made a positive impact on our campus. With his broad experience in academic administration and in maintaining high standards of academic excellence, I am looking forward to his continued contributions and the resulting benefits for our students and faculty,” said McGuire.
Dr. Willens earned his bachelor’s degree in English literature from Temple University where he also pursued doctoral studies in English literature and medieval studies. He earned a doctorate from Marquette University in educational psychology where his dissertation research focused on how college students learn to write. He has extensive experience in teaching Composition and Rhetoric, Developmental Writing, and Linguistics, as well as English literature.
About South University
Established in 1899, South University is a private academic institution dedicated to providing educational opportunities for the intellectual, social and professional development of a diverse student population. South University offers educational programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate levels with campuses located in Columbia, S.C.; Montgomery, Ala.; Novi, Mich., Richmond and Virginia Beach, Va.; Savannah, Ga.; and Tampa and West Palm Beach, Fla. Further information on South University is available at: www.southuniversity.edu.