New dean of students hired
Kimberly K. Bright, a director of academic advising and student records for Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, has been hired to be the new dean of students at Chadron State College. Bright's first day on the job will be Monday, Nov. 3.
Bright, 51, will lead CSC's efforts to encourage student success and said her new position will provide a match of experience and new challenges that will help her grow professionally.
Bright has been at SMU since May 2005, where she is director of academic advising and student records for the bachelor's of business administration program at the Cox School of Business. Prior to moving to Dallas, she worked at community colleges in Kansas.
She was employed at Butler Community College in Kansas for nine years beginning in 1996. At that institution she was the co-director of its campus in Rose Hill, and the coordinator of evening and weekend programming at its Andover campus.
From 1991-1996 she was employed by Coffeyville Community College. Her jobs there included director of adult basic education, director of international student services, assessment officer and adjunct instructor.
Bright has completed post-graduate studies at Fresno Pacific University, North Dakota State University and Pittsburg State University. She holds a master's degree in Adult and Continuing education from Kansas State University and a bachelor's degree from Kansas Newman College, now known as Newman University, in Wichita.
She also has presented at numerous conferences for education associations on the state, regional and national level and has penned a newspaper column.
Bright said student services play a vital role in the success of higher education.
"To me, the educational system is like a bicycle wheel," she said. "The faculty is the hub, the students are the rim and the spokes are the student services that help make the connection between the two. We want to have strong student services because if the spokes start breaking down, the entire wheel won't function well."
Bright said that she and her husband, Don, look forward to moving to Chadron and that CSC and the rest of the community made a positive impression on them.
"I think it's a wonderfully warm and inviting environment with lots of enthusiasm from the faculty, staff and students," she said.
Between the two of them, Kim and Don have six grown children -- three each. They have two grandchildren with one more on the way.
Category: Campus News