Academic Affairs Changes, Spring 2026
As part of the ongoing phases of academic restructuring that were announced in December of 2025, we are pleased to share the following updates:
Undergraduate Division Structure Updates
The undergraduate division is moving forward with work on the four student-facing schools and reorganization of faculty leadership positions designed to deliver a more student-ready, modern academic structure. Starting July 1, 2026, Mike Geraci will serve in the role of Associate Dean of Faculty and Brian Jackson will serve in the role of Associate Dean of Curriculum and Student Success. School chairs have been identified: Todd Duncan will serve as Chair of the School of Arts and Creative Expression; Rich Van Buskirk will serve as Chair of the School of Culture and Environment, Shereen Khoja will serve as Chair of School of Discovery, Innovation, and Leadership; and Katie Dolphin we serve as Chair of the School of Health and Human Potential. Finally, applications from internal candidates are being reviewed for the restructured administrative support positions..
Graduate & Professional Division Structure Updates
As of July 1, 2026, the Graduate & Professional Division will consist of the College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (CHRS) led by Executive Dean and Vice Provost Mary Von; The College of Behavioral Sciences and Learning and Leadership (CBSLL) led by Dean Lynette Bikos; and, the College of Optometry (COO) led by Dean Bisant Labib. Dr. Von will have an additional role overseeing the division and managing the alignment of some shared processes and efficiencies across the three colleges within the division. Dr. Katie Bell has transitioned from Director of the School of Healthcare Administration (SHAL) to serving in the role of Senior Associate Director of Accreditation and Curricular Assessment within the School of Physician Associate Studies. We extend appreciation to Dr. Bell for her support of the SHAL programs and a special thanks to Dr. Von who will oversee the DMSc and DHSc programs moving forward.
We extend a special thank you to Dr. Jill Dolata for her service as the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies during this transition year and to Dr. Amanda Stead who has been serving as the interim director of the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Dr. Dolata will return to the role of school director as of July 1st.
Dr. Brian Wilkinson is serving as the interim director of the School of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training. We are grateful for his leadership in this season of transition. A national search is currently underway to find a director.
With the recent approval of the accreditation of our new Dental Therapy program, we are pleased to announce that the School of Dental Hygiene Studies will be returning to its original name, the School of Dental Health Studies, better reflecting the diversity of programming within this school.
The Graduate & Professional Division is working to fill restructured program support roles as well as administrative support positions. The faculty chairs of the three colleges are working diligently with ad hoc faculty committees to establish unit governance for the start of AY26-27. We are excited about the opportunities for collaboration and connection with our graduate programs within a single division.
Other Academic Area Updates
Pacific Opportunity Hub – We are pleased to be moving forward with staffing searches for the new Pacific Opportunity Hub. Dr. Stephanie Stokamer will serve as the Executive Director of Career and Experiential Learning and oversee the Hub which includes a collection of student-facing services and experiential learning support that will include advising, career development from undergraduates to graduates to alumni, and development of experiential learning opportunities for every student, including study away opportunities. In addition, Amy Tracewell will take an additional responsibility and role as the new Associate Director of Community Partnerships and Non-Degree Programming. She will fulfil this role in addition to her work as the Director of the Masters of Nonprofit Leadership program.
University Libraries – We are pleased to share that Josie Ragolia will move from the Interim Dean of Libraries into a permanent role of the Dean of Libraries and Academic Innovation. This includes continued oversight of university libraries, the Center for Education Technology and Curricular Innovation (CETCI), the Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS), along with the addition of the Early Learning Community (ELC) which will join the Libraries in the coming academic year. The inclusion of the ELC within the Libraries brings together two critical points of learning in our institution. This exciting new partnership leverages the Libraries’ role as a central hub for teaching, learning, and research, providing the ELC with a stable, high-visibility platform while maintaining its operational independence.
Office of Institutional Research (OIRA) – Dr. Rebecca Concepcion, the Associate Director of Accreditation and Assessment, began work earlier this year and will continue working alongside Wil O’Shea and Juliette Stoering as we prepare for the upcoming regional mid-cycle accreditation visit in October. We are thankful to all who are actively working to support efforts to highlight mission fulfillment through our programming and look forward to sharing more of this work as we prepare for the site visit in October.
Office of Scholarship and Sponsored Projects (OSSP) – After a distinguished and successful career where she has helped raise the research profile of Pacific University to the top private university in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest for R&D expenditures, Dr. Jo Isgrigg has announced plans to retire at the end of this academic year. We are extremely grateful to Jo and the significant impact her work has had in elevating Pacific! The office’s new structure is still being determined.