Roxanne M. Gonzales, Ed.D., has accepted the position of executive dean of Clarion
University’s Venango College. She will begin July 1.
Gonzales assumes the position held on an interim basis by Colleen McAleer, Ph.D., since July 1, 2014, and previously held for 12 years by Christopher Reber, Ph.D., who left Clarion to accept the presidency of The Community College of Beaver County.
"I'm very excited to be joining the dynamic and innovative team of faculty, staff and administrators at Clarion University and am fully committed to its mission," Gonzales said. "As the executive dean of Venango College, I fully support open access and want to expand upon Venango's diverse portfolio of academically sound degrees and certificates to meet students' goals, while ensuring that Venango College and Clarion University remain a resource for regional economic growth."
Gonzales has extensive academic leadership experience in higher education, including the leadership of large numbers of faculty and staff, management of multi-million-dollar budgets with consistently increased levels of responsibility. She has also provided leadership to continuing higher education, including service as the national president for the Association of Continuing Higher Education and the Jesuit Deans of Adult and Continuing Education.
She is currently chief executive officer of ZIA Higher Ed Consulting, a start-up firm that specializes in assisting higher education institutions in developing programs to serve today's post-traditional students. She was a professor of adult education and training, a rank commensurate with academic dean, at Regis University, Denver. There she established a new Master of Science degree in adult education and training, for online delivery. She also spent six years at Park University where she served as the dean of the Distance Learning division and was a chair and tenured associate professor of adult education, where she facilitated and developed online graduate courses in adult education.
"I have been fortunate to serve post-traditional students through my career, and I welcome the opportunity to stay on that path with Venango College," she said.
She has led teams through different types of accreditation processes, including the Higher Education Commission and professional accreditation bodies. She is experienced in using data and various other resources to determine market trends for program development. She brings to Clarion theoretical and practical skills, policy development experience and knowledge of best practices to support online and hybrid learning for student success.
"I have been active in partnering with professional organizations, business and the military to deliver programs and grow the reputation of the institution for which I serve," Gonzales said. She has served on national committees working to influence policy on a national scale. As president of the Association for Continuing Higher Education, she was an invited panelist to the National Press Club because of her knowledge on current issues.
"I am extremely pleased with Dr. Gonzales joining the academic leadership team," said Ron Nowaczyk, provost. "Her experiences leading multiple campus locations and her commitment to furthering the educational opportunities for post-traditional students will fit well with our mission and vision for Clarion University and Venango College."
Nowaczyk said Gonzales will join Clarion University on a part-time basis as special assistant to the provost prior to her taking over at Venango College in July.
Gonzales completed her Doctor of Education degree in higher education administration at University of Massachusetts, Boston. Her dissertation focus was "Higher Education Institutions in Educational Partnerships with Corporations: Impact on Organizational Systems." She earned her master's degree in counseling from Creighton University, and her bachelor's degree in psychology from University of Maryland University College. Additional coursework includes Harvard Institute for Management and Leadership in Education; instructional design graduate courses at University of Oklahoma; and alternative health and healing graduate courses at Plymouth State University.
Gonzales is married to Sanford "Sandy" Walker, a retired U.S. Air Force major. Their family includes two adult sons: Don, a flight paramedic, his wife Tarra and three-month-old son Aidan; and Andrew, a police officer. They have two rescue dogs, a shepherd and a greyhound mix. Originally from New Mexico, Gonzales enjoys cooking and baking, particularly ethnic dishes, Navajo weaving and attending live theater and recitals. She has special interest in volunteer Hospice work and working with veterans.
She and her husband will maintain their family home in New Hampshire, but they plan to establish a secondary residence in the Franklin area.