Stephen Minnick, Ph.D., of New Philadelphia, has been selected as the interim assistant dean of Kent State University at Tuscarawas. He succeeds Fran Haldar, Ph.D., who retired from the university in May after 11 years of service.
“I am honored to be chosen to fill this important position, and appreciate the trust and confidence Dr. Brad Bielski has placed in me,” Minnick says. “I am looking forward to building on the past successes of Kent State Tuscarawas in serving the surrounding communities, and hope to use my past experiences as a naval officer and a professional engineer to the campus’ advantage. I believe Kent State Tuscarawas has and will continue to supply the people of our community with a path to success in life at a reasonable cost, and I intend to do all I can as assistant dean to ensure this.”
Bradley A. Bielski, Ph. D., dean and chief administrative officer of Kent State Tuscarawas, says he is pleased Minnick has agreed to the interim appointment.
“Dr. Steve Minnick brings valued experience to the assistant dean’s office as a campus leader and as a highly respected faculty member,” Bielski says.
Minnick is in charge of all academic affairs for Kent State Tuscarawas. This includes all course scheduling for the fall, spring and summer semesters; assignment of faculty workload for both full- and part-time faculty; conducting recruitment and handling compensation issues for part-time faculty; leading new academic program development; maintaining the integrity of existing programs; and overseeing the planning and implementation of the annual Commencement ceremony.
Prior to his appointment as interim assistant dean, Minnick was a physics professor for 13 years at the campus. He also has four years’ experience teaching electrical engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 1998 with the rank of lieutenant commander. During his naval career, he served on three nuclear-powered cruisers and one conventionally powered frigate. He is a qualified nuclear propulsion engineer and a graduate of the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm, where he served as operations officer on the USS McInerney (FFG 8).
Minnick holds a Ph.D. in physics and a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, and a Master of Science in physics from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He also is a licensed professional engineer.
A search for a permanent assistant dean will be announced in the near future.
Kimberly Huston, D.V.M., of Dover, has been hired as director of the Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology program. She served as the program’s interim director from September 2015 to March 2016 before accepting the permanent position in March. 
“I am thrilled to be a part of the Kent State Tuscarawas team through the Veterinary Technology Program,” Huston says. “I look forward to my role in helping educate students through our mutual passion in veterinary medicine. I hope to also benefit the veterinary community by continuing the level of excellence this program has already become known for.”
Kent State Tuscarawas is one of only eight American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited veterinary technology programs in Ohio. Huston oversees the academic program, as well as recruiting students for the program at Kent State Tuscarawas. She also is in charge of the veterinary technology program that Kent State Tuscarawas delivers at Kent State University at Trumbull.
“Dr. Huston is an outstanding choice as the director of the Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology program,” Bielski says. “She brings significant real-world experience to the program. As an example of how she excels in this position, one of her first accomplishments was the successful AVMA accreditation for the veterinary technology program that we deliver at Kent State Trumbull.”
Huston holds a Bachelor of Science in animal sciences from Clemson University and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University in St. Kitts, West Indies. Huston completed her clinical year of veterinary school at the University of Florida.
Prior to joining Kent State Tuscarawas, Huston was employed by Valley View Animal Hospital for five years. She replaces Ron Southerland, D.V.M., who left the position in June 2015.
Courtney A. Nign, of St. Clairsville, has accepted the new position of assistant director of enrollment management and student services. In this role, she is responsible for a variety of student recruitment initiatives and events.
“I’m excited to join the admissions team at Kent State Tuscarawas,” Nign says. "This campus has so much to offer local students. I am looking forward to sharing more about who we are and what we do with prospective students in the coming months.”
Prior to joining Kent State Tuscarawas, Nign was an enrollment services associate and the coordinator of off-campus operations for Belmont College in St. Clairsville, Ohio. She also worked as an admissions counselor at Ohio Northern University.
“Courtney has several years’ experience in admissions and recruitment, enabling her to bring a fresh perspective to our enrollment office,” Bielski says. “Since arriving in May, she has already initiated new ideas and procedures that will benefit enrollment at the campus.”
Nign earned her Bachelor of Science in business administration from Ohio Northern University and a Master of Science in sports administration from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana.
For more information about Kent State Tuscarawas, visit www.kent.edu/tusc.
