Lincoln University names Benne to dean's post

Search continues for other dean vacancy

Jennifer Benne
Jennifer Benne

Jennifer Benne is Lincoln University's new assistant provost of Student Success, and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

An LU announcement Monday said the appointment is effective Jan. 1, 2017.

Lincoln also has been searching for a new assistant provost for Faculty Affairs and dean of the College of Professional Studies and Graduate School.

Three finalists for that position had visited LU's campus earlier this year.

But LU President Kevin Rome told the News Tribune Monday: "We are going to extend the search for (that) position."

Benne currently is an LU biology professor, and she headed LU's department of Life and Physical Sciences from 2006-15.

She's been teaching at Lincoln since 1998.

Benne earned her doctorate in entomology and enrichment in biotechniques from Michigan State University, East Lansing, in 2000.

Her master's degree in biology, with an emphasis in biochemistry, came from Wayne State University, Detroit, in 1993.

And she earned her bachelor's degree in biology, with a minor in biochemistry, in 1990 from Hope College in Holland, Michigan.

In her curriculum vitae, which was posted on LU's website as part of the search process, Benne said: "Hallmarks of my leadership style include: swift and effective communication of departmental matters, a commitment to shared governance with transparency in decision making, leadership by example and a goal to work collaboratively and collegially with campus leaders."

She noted having a variety of leadership experiences, including the "independent leadership of events" as well as working with others "on local, national and international projects."

Benne's resume also reported her nine years as an LU department head which included managing "the staffing needs of the department during the transition to increase faculty participation in research" and on the change from having a department that combined Agriculture and Natural Sciences to the current Life and Physical Sciences department.

"I have proven that I am an effective leader with excellent inter-personal and communication skills," Benne wrote.

Benne will succeed Betty Parker-Smith, who has been Lincoln's interim Arts and Sciences College dean since July.

Parker-Smith succeeded longtime LU dean Ruth Sturdevant, who retired last summer.

The other dean's position currently is held on an interim basis by retired LU administrator Joe Simmons, who is a professor emeritus, and past provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

He succeeded longtime dean Linda Bickel, who still works at Lincoln.

Rome didn't announce any new timeline for filling that post with a permanent appointment.