Yohnk Chosen as Arts and Humanities Dean

Dean Yohnk

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside announces the appointment of Dr. Dean Yohnk as dean of the newly established College of Arts and Humanities. Dr. Yohnk, who currently serves the university as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, begins his new duties July 1, 2012, and will report directly to Provost Terry Brown.

"Over the years, Dean Yohnk has meant so much to this university and the communities of southeastern Wisconsin," Brown said. "I applaud the efforts of the search and screen committee, and I am thrilled that Dr. Yohnk was the candidate of choice to fill this key position."

As interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Yohnk provided academic leadership and coordination for 32 departments and programs, including approximately 4,000 students, more than 150 full-time faculty and instructional academic staff, and an annual budget in excess of $40 million.

In 2009, under Dr. Yohnk's direction as chair, the Theatre Arts Department received the UW Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award for most outstanding academic department in the UW System.

Dr. Yohnk has been a member of the regional and national executive committees of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. In 2011 he received the Gold Medallion Award for service to the organization and the advancement of theatre in higher education.

Prior to joining the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Dr. Yohnk served Viterbo University, La Crosse, Wis., as chair of Theatre and Musical Theatre, and artistic director. Dr. Yohnk earned his undergraduate degree from the Viterbo University, and his master's and Ph.D. at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio.

"Since arriving at UW-Parkside in the fall of 2001, I have had the honor and privilege of serving as an active and engaged member of the UW-Parkside campus community," Yohnk said. "I truly value and embrace the vision and mission of UW-Parkside, and I have been inspired by the university's shared goal of serving the region's diverse population.

"I am especially honored to serve as the founding dean of the new College of Arts and Humanities, which is housed in the spectacular new Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities. It is thrilling for me to have the opportunity to provide leadership to the new college during the 2012 Year of the Arts and Humanities and beyond as we strive to become an even more vital component on the cultural renaissance and thriving creative economy of southeastern Wisconsin.

"I look forward to welcoming campus and community members to the hundreds of arts and humanities events, performances, exhibits, and educational programs that UW-Parkside and the new College of Arts and Humanities will be offering annually as we strive to achieve our goal of providing invaluable educational, cultural, and economic enrichment for this great place we call 'home.'"

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is in the midst of an academic restructuring. Late last year, the university received approval from the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents to replace the current College of Arts and Sciences and School of Business and Technology with four colleges. In addition to the new College of Arts and Humanities and the College of Business, Economics and Computing, the university is involved in a search for the dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences. The fourth college, the College of Social Sciences and Professional Studies, is scheduled for July 2013 and the search for a dean will begin in fall 2012. 

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Story Status: Archived
Publish date: 5/16/2012

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