Shawnee State University has named Dr. Ashley Carlson Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. A Fulbright Scholar, Carlson brings extensive leadership experience from senior academic roles at institutions in Colorado and Montana.
“I was very impressed with Shawnee State and its mission from the start,” said Carlson. “As a first-generation college graduate, I understand the importance of a university that gives all students the opportunity to build a better life through access to a quality education that helps them achieve their career goals.”
Carlson most recently served as associate provost at Western Colorado University, where she was also the inaugural Interim Dean of the School of Arts. Before that, she spent much of her career at the University of Montana Western, beginning as a professor of English. She went on to serve as chair of the English department, chair of the Division of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs. While at Montana Western, she was selected as a Fulbright Scholar to conduct research and lecture at the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar.
“Dr. Carlson understands the need to advance academic programs so they keep up with rapidly evolving student and employer demands,” said Shawnee State University President Eric Andrew Braun. “Her experience and leadership will be a key connecting graduates with a high-quality education, real-world work experiences, and careers after graduation.”
Carlson earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and French from Chapman University, and her Master of Arts and PhD in English from the University of New Mexico.