{"id":120717,"date":"2020-04-01T12:12:58","date_gmt":"2020-04-01T18:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=120717"},"modified":"2020-04-02T14:24:16","modified_gmt":"2020-04-02T20:24:16","slug":"vidler-named-dean-of-the-college-of-letters-arts-and-sciences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=120717","title":{"rendered":"Vidler named dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Lynn Vidler, an associate dean for the largest college at South Dakota\u2019s flagship university, will be the next dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at UCCS. They will begin July 1, 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am thrilled to join the Mountain Lion family. UCCS and the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences have excellent reputations thanks to their strong faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners,\u201d Vidler said. \u201cI have been especially pleased to see how everyone is working together to help students thrive during the current COVID-19 crisis. Thank you for this important public service. Although this is not an easy time, we will get through it together. I look forward to collaborating with everyone as we work to provide an affordable, accessible education to the diverse people of Colorado.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vidler has been the associate dean for administration in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of South Dakota since 2017, where they administer a significant portion of the college\u2019s $22 million budget. They increased college grants and contracts by 37 percent to $5.9 million from 2017 to 2018 and led the college\u2019s efforts to promote research, offering support and resources to all individuals conducting research. Vidler also managed donor relations in scholarship administration and coordination, contributed to the college\u2019s strategic planning efforts and helped to increase the first-time full-time enrollment by 15 percent from 2017 to 2018. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, Vidler serves as USD\u2019s faculty athletics representative. They reported to the university president on institutional control, academic integrity and student-athlete well-being for the NCAA Division I program. They are also on the editorial board for \u201cComedia Performance,\u201d the journal of the Association for Hispanic Classic Theater. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vidler, a professor of Spanish, was previously the chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics at USD from 2014-17. They spearheaded efforts to overhaul the department\u2019s strategic plan, program assessment, strategic communications and language lab, and coordinated fundraising that added to the department\u2019s language scholarship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vidler is also the current chair of the Human Cultures Goal Team for the Interstate Passport program with the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education. The team produces criteria that facilitate the transfer of a student\u2019s general-education program between schools based on learning outcomes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vidler spent 12 years at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point in the Department of Foreign Languages from 2002-14, ending as professor of Spanish and program director of Spanish. They also served as associate dean for the International Intellectual Development Division in spring 2014 and advised the dean on all international matters including cadet, faculty and executive travel, visitors to West Point and international cadet activities. Vidler received the Superior Civilian Service Award, the Superintendent\u2019s Award for Excellence, the Commander\u2019s Award for Civilian Service and twice earned the Dean\u2019s Award for Excellence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Lynn comes in with the balance of administration, research and teaching that will serve them well as the next dean for the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences,\u201d said Provost Tom Christensen. \u201cI know that Lynn will do great things to advance the mission and vision of the college for the future. I also want to thank Rex Welshon, who has served as dean for more than a year and has provided great leadership for the college in the interim.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christensen expressed gratitude to Valerie Martin Conley, dean of the College of Education, who chaired the 12-member search committee. The committee also included: <\/p>\n\n\n\n