Lorette Oden, interim dean of the Western Illinois University Centennial Honors College and chair of the Department of Health Sciences and Social Work, has been named the permanent dean, effective July 1.
Oden has served as the interim dean of the Centennial Honors College since July 2020. She has served as the College of Human and Services associate dean since August 2018 and has served as chair of health sciences and social work since 2015.
"Dr. Oden's leadership of the Honors College and her long history with WIU will provide continued excellence and support for our Honors students at Western," said Interim Provost Billy Clow.
She joined the department (formerly called the WIU Department of Community Health and Health Services Management) as an assistant professor in 1999. Oden was promoted to associate professor in 2003 and to professor in 2008. She is the co-chair of the WIU Anti-Racism Task Force and is a member of the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) Diversifying Faculty in Illinois (DFI) Board.
"I look forward to continued collaborations and partnerships across the University and within the community to provide even greater enriched and engaged opportunities for students to excel in their various disciplines, as well as to enhance their experiences at WIU," Oden said.
Previously, she served as a doctoral research assistant and instructor in the University of Toledo Department of Health Promotion and Human Performance. Oden also served as a Fellow of the 2012 American Association of Blacks in Higher Education Leadership and Mentoring Institute at Miles College in Birmingham, AL.
Oden received her doctorate in health education, an MBA (finance and health care administration) and her bachelor's degree in biology from The University of Toledo (OH).
Source: http://www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php?release_id=18587
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