Kent State University Selects New Deans for College of Nursing and College of the Arts

Following separate national searches, Kent State University has selected Versie Johnson-Mallard, Ph.D., for the position of dean of the College of Nursing and Diane H. Petrella, D.M.A., for the position of dean of the College of the Arts.

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Since 2018, Johnson-Mallard has been the associate dean at the University of Florida, College of Nursing. There she provided transformational leadership in academic support of areas of curriculum performance appraisals related to student success, budget and finance, facilities planning and management.

“I am excited to be a part of the highest-ranking public university in northern Ohio,” Johnson-Mallard said. “I am impressed with the students, faculty and staff and embrace the opportunity to build on the enormous achievements of Kent State University’s College of Nursing. Exciting times lie ahead for creating innovation and excelling in the multiple facets of community engagement. I look forward to leading with unwavering commitment. I am proud to be a Golden Flash Nurse Leader.”

Johnson-Mallard will succeed Denice Sheehan, who has served as interim dean of the College of Nursing since the retirement of Barbara Broome, Ph.D., on June 30, 2020.

Johnson-Mallard’s position is effective Aug. 2, 2021.

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Petrella has served as interim dean of the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Conservatory since 2017. There she had oversight of all academic, fiscal, development, personnel and administrative functions as chief executive officer.

“I am excited to join the visionary leadership team at Kent State,” Petrella said. “The College of the Arts is home to many outstanding programs, and I look forward to collaborating with the faculty, staff and students to increase the impact and accessibility of the arts, both nationally and internationally. I am grateful for this opportunity and eager to join the Kent State community.”

Petrella’s position is effective July 1.

She will succeed John Crawford-Spinelli, Ed.D., who is retiring at the end of June.

Melody Tankersley, Kent State’s senior vice president and provost, thanked the search committees for both positions, as well as Allan Boike, D.P.M., dean of the College of Podiatric Medicine, who chaired the search committee for the College of Nursing, and Amy Reynolds, Ph.D., dean of the College of Communication and Information, who chaired the search committee for the College of the Arts. The time and careful discernment of the search committees brought Kent State the right candidates for these important posts.