Waugh, Williams named deans

Waugh, who served as Interim Dean of the School of Business, Math and Science, and Graduate Program, last academic year, begins her full time appointment July 1. Williams, a native of Stamps, Arkansas, will be the Dean of Professional Studies and Applied Sciences. He replaces Dr. Margaret Crouse, who was an interim appointment when Powell became the VPAA.

“Both Dr. Waugh and Dr. Williams bring a rich set of experiences and perspectives to their positions,” Powell said. “I’m confident they will be successful as Deans and continue CSC’s storied history as an educational leader.”

Waugh is in her fourth decade of employment at CSC. She started as a Resident Hall Director in 1992 and began teaching in the Business Academy in 1993. She has distinguished herself among her peers, winning Chadron State College’s Teaching Excellence Award in 2009, delivering the 2016 Graduate Commencement Address, and serving as Department Chair.

“I am delighted to have been selected to continue my service to Chadron State College as Dean,” Waugh said. “In my year as interim, I have learned that the job comes with a remarkable amount of variety and is primarily people-centered. My success in this position has been, and will continue to be fundamentally connected to the amazing people I have the pleasure of working with.”

Waugh has five degrees: A Bachelor of Science in Management and Electronic Data Processing and a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Business Education from Wayne State, a Master of Science in Education: Business Specialization from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, an MBA from CSC, and a Ph.D. from Capella University in Minneapolis in Organization and Management.

Williams will begin his duties July 15. He has had a variety of administrative experience in his career in higher education, most recently serving as a Department Head and Professor at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. Williams managed two different programs for nearly five years as the Department Head for Student Affairs Administration and the Center for Leadership and Learning, while also teaching half time.

He began his educational career in 1999 teaching high school in Greenville, Texas. In 2003, he transitioned to a role as an Academic Advisor at Texas A&M University-Commerce (TAMU-C) and advised students in education, counseling, psychology, special education, physical education, and social work for two years, while also teaching for two years as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. In 2006, he served as a mental health counselor at TAMU-C. In 2008, Williams became an Assistant Professor in the Curriculum and Instruction College of Education at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas. At Angelo State, he was named the program director in 2009, served as Faculty Senate Vice President, and collaborated with Student Affairs to develop an internship program. In 2015, he began his career at Arkansas Tech. In addition to supervising department faculty and staff, he assisted in budget preparation, and developed an academic advising certificate program that increased enrollment.

“I’ve always been an educator,” Williams said. “Students are the reason I am in higher education and Chadron State appeals to me for several reasons. Primarily, I wanted to get back to a smaller environment and the identity of CSC is that it is student-centered and student-focused. I’m thrilled about this opportunity and I can’t wait to get started and meet everyone.”

All three of Williams’ degrees are from Texas A&M University-Commerce: a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health, a Master of Science in Counseling/Student Affairs, and an Ed.D. in Higher Education: Supervision, Curriculum and Instruction. He has also received training from the Leadership and Mentoring Institute from the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education, and is a Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission.