As we look ahead to the new academic year, BCAS is pleased to announce the appointments of several colleagues who will assume new leadership roles within the College.
Dr. Nidaa Makki, Professor
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies
Makki is a professor in the LJFF School of Education and in 2019 became the director of the Urban STEM Center. Her teaching and research emphasize equity and access to STEM education opportunities for students in K-12 and university settings. She has collaboratively secured external federal (NSF), state, and local funding to develop and implement innovative STEM programs in various settings, with over $4 million dollars in funding for interdisciplinary projects. She continues to establish joint efforts across colleges and with local school districts to support student engagement with authentic science and engineering experiences.
Donray Bennett
Director of Community Engagement & Strategic Partnerships
Being promoted from his position as Associate Director of Recruitment & Retention, he will continue to lead recruitment activities for the College, and, in working with others, address retention efforts. In his new role, he will also lead community engagement efforts and strategic partnerships that are focused on developing and promoting our College’s academic programs.
Vivian Campbell
Director of Finance & Research Support
Vivian started in June managing the college’s business operations, monitoing the budget process, and overseeing the administration of our fiscal affairs. She also works with our academic units and faculty supporting pre- and post-award budgeting of research grants
Dr. Brian Bagatto, Professor in Biology
Director of the Integrated Bioscience Ph.D. program
Dr. Bagatto began his role on July 1, taking over for Dr. Jordan Renna, who is interim chair of the Department of Biology. Bagatto has been a faculty member in the program whose main research focus is the study of physiological processes during development in vertebrates.
Dr. Wei (Grace) Zhang, Associate Professor of English
Director of the English Language Institute
Dr. Zhang began her role on May 1. She will continue to serve as director of both the Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate and Certificate in Linguistic Studies programs.
Dr. Mary Biddinger, Professor
Chair, Department of English
Dr. Biddinger has been appointed chair after serving as interim chair since January of 2022. She remains a faculty member of the NEOMFA: Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program, and the Poetry and Poetics editor at the University of Akron Press.
Dr. John Peck, Professor
Chair, Department of Geosciences
Dr. Peck, who joined UA in 2020, takes on the role of chair the Department of Geosciences, replacing Dr. David Steer, as it enters its new phase within the refurbished Crouse Hall. His research interests include sedimentology, pollution histories, dam removal, lakes and rivers, and study of past climates on Earth (paleoclimate).
Dr. Jennifer Stanley, Professor
Chair, Department of Psychology
Dr. Stanley served as the department’s interim chair since 2022 and has now been appointed chair. She remains the director of the Emotions and Aging Lab, which studies the social and emotional development across the lifespan, and the director of the Institute for Life-Span Development and Gerontology.
Dr. Jordan Renna, Associate Professor
Interim Chair, Department of Biology
Dr. Renna has been appointed interim chair of the department, replacing Dr. Steven Weeks. Most recently the director of the Integrated Science Ph.D. program, Dr. Renna joined UA in 2013 and his research focuses on neural circuit development in the retina.
Dr. Jutta Luettmer-Strathmann, Professor
Interim Chair, Department of Physics
Dr. Luettmer-Strathmann has been named interim chair of the department. She has been with UA since 1998, with a joint appointment in the Department of Chemistry since 2000.
Dr. Camelly Cruz-Martes, Assistant Professor of Instruction
Assistant Chair, Department of Modern Languages
Dr. Cruz-Martes has been named assistant chair of the department. She has been with UA since 2021, and remains the director of the department’s Advanced Spanish for Health Professions and First Responders program.