Towards the end of the spring 2022 semester and over the summer, Bowling Green State University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Joe Whitehead announced the hire of three new deans. 

Dr. Jennifer Percival 

On April 6, 2022, BGSU announced the selection of Dr. Jennifer Percival as the new dean of Schmidthorst College of Business, she started in June.

Percival has a Ph.D. in Philosophy — Management Sciences from the University of Waterloo, and she also earned an Honorus Bachelor of Mathematics in operations research.

Before accepting this position, she was the Associate Dean of the Manning School of Business at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She led initiatives directed to support first-generation students to increase engagement with student organizations in the college and encourage undergraduate research. 

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Society for Health Systems. 

According to the report, her research is about collaborative, interdisciplinary projects, the use of process modeling techniques to support innovation, change management and technology integration in services. 

She integrates business into graduate engineering education to support the retention and recruitment of women and underrepresented minorities. 

Additionally, her publications focus on the integration of technology into organizational practices with applications in higher education and health care and the strategic use of technology and innovation. 

Her work has found significant increases in undergraduate and graduate recruitment and retention.

Over time, Percival has received over $1.5 million in grants to support her research, the announcement said. She led the development of interdisciplinary programs to support student access and the development of industry-ready graduates. 

Her studies look at the impact and design of pathway programs between community colleges and universities to support improved graduation rates, retention and diversity.

Dr. Ellen Schendel 

On April 14, Dr. Ellen Schendel was named the next dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, she started in June. 

Schendel has a Ph.D. in English with a concentration in rhetoric and composition from the University of Louisville. 

Before BGSU, Schendel was an Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Grand Valley University in Michigan. She was responsible for the approval and coordination of new international education, program development and providing guidance and support for curricular innovations campuswide. 

Her scholarly research is typically focused on writing assessments. 

Grand Valley State University launched over 30 new degree programs, certificates and badges for graduate and undergraduate students under her leadership. 

She has also served as an Associate Dean in the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies and as acting dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Grand Valley State University.

According to the report released by Whitehead, “… she will bring a focus to Bowling Green State University on student access and program excellence that begins with supporting faculty research, scholarly and creative activity and meaningful staff development.” 

Dr. Jennifer Waldron

On May 19, Dr. Jennifer Waldron was announced as the new Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate and Professional Programs.

Waldron holds a Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Michigan State University and received her master’s in Developmental Kinesiology from BGSU. 

Before BGSU, she was an associate vice president of research and innovation and dean of the Graduate College at the University of Northern Iowa. She was also an interim dean of online and distance education. 

Waldron was able to use a number of initiatives to increase enrollment at the University of Northern Iowa by doing things like modernizing degree programs and leading campus-wide programs.

According to the report, “I (Whitehead) look forward to working with Dr. Waldron to create a bold vision for the future of graduate and professional education; cultivate and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across campus; develop resources that will deepen support for graduate education; continue to build and strengthen BGSU’s diverse and inclusive graduate community; and enhance graduate student success and well-being.”