Kent State University has named Margaret (Peggy) Shadduck, Ph.D., of Richardson, Texas, as its new vice president for Regional Campuses and dean of the College of Applied and Technical Studies. Shadduck was selected following a national search. She currently serves as associate dean and faculty and unit director of New College at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. She will join Kent State on April 1, 2021.
As vice president for Regional Campuses and dean of the College of Applied and Technical Studies, Shadduck will be the senior officer responsible for the oversight of the university’s seven Regional Campuses and for the College of Applied and Technical Studies, the administrative home for faculty, programs and associated curriculum unique to the university’s Regional Campuses. Shadduck will report to Melody Tankersley, Ph.D., Kent State’s senior vice president and provost. Shadduck will also serve on the President’s Cabinet, ensuring that the voice and perspectives of the Regional Campuses help inform cabinet-level discussions and decisions.
“We are thrilled that Dr. Shadduck has accepted our offer to lead Kent State’s Regional Campuses,” Tankersley said. “Peggy brings great talent, creativity and big ideas that will help to guide our Regional Campuses in new directions and success. Her work with the New College at the University of North Texas focused on enhancing academic programs through building partnerships with business and industry and then embedding experiences provided through those partnerships into student programming. Peggy’s goal is to remove barriers and create pathways for students to complete their degrees and further the economic engines of our communities and beyond. Her involvement in curriculum development and assessment, paired with a deep understanding and passion for crossing disciplinary boundaries, will complement her work as the dean of the College of Applied and Technical Studies.”
Shadduck expressed her enthusiasm in joining Kent State and leading its Regional Campuses.
“I am delighted to be joining the dedicated team at Kent State,” Shadduck said. “The Regional Campuses and the College of Applied and Technical Studies are great assets to the mission of Kent State. I look forward to helping bring out their full potential during a time of rapid change in the world of higher education.”
A career educator, Shadduck has devoted herself to improving student learning experiences in higher education for more than 25 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College with majors in mathematics and East Asian Studies. After a short stint as an actuary, she went to graduate school, earning a master’s degree in neuroscience from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. in pharmacology from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. During that time, Shadduck learned that she has a passion for teaching and launched her teaching career with a group of biology students at a local community college. During her 12 years at Transylvania University in Kentucky, Shadduck taught and developed more than 20 different courses, with several crossing disciplines boundaries. She was asked to handle some administrative responsibilities after several years at Transylvania University, so she pursued a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Illinois at Springfield to complement her science background. That led to additional leadership positions in public two-year institutions, including serving as the chief academic officer at Shelton State Community College in Alabama. Shadduck has served as associate dean of New College at the University of North Texas since 2018 and as faculty and unit director of New College since 2017.
Shadduck will succeed David Dees, Ph.D., and Sue Stocker, Ph.D., who have been serving as interim vice president for Kent State System Integration and interim dean of the College of Applied and Technical Studies, respectively, since Nov. 1, 2019. Dees is dean and chief administrative officer of Kent State’s East Liverpool and Salem campuses, and Stocker is dean and chief administrative officer of Kent State’s Ashtabula Campus.
“I am so very grateful for the tremendous leadership that Dr. Dees and Dr. Stocker provided to our university system during this difficult year,” Tankersley said. “They added these additional responsibilities onto their already full plates of serving as the deans and chief administrative officers of their campuses, and I thank them for their leadership.”
Kent State’s Regional Campuses are located in Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas. For more information about Kent State’s Regional Campuses, visit www.kent.edu/regional-campuses/regional-campuses.
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Photo Caption:
Margaret (Peggy) Shadduck, Ph.D., of Richardson, Texas, has been selected to serve as Kent State University’s new vice president for Regional Campuses and dean of the College of Applied and Technical Studies. She will join Kent State on April 1, 2021.
Media Contacts:
Eric Mansfield, emansfie@kent.edu, 330-672-2797
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595