Kristin Woolever named UNH Manchester dean 

Bruce Mallory, UNH Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, has announced the appointment of Kristin Woolever as the next dean of UNH Manchester. Woolever brings more than 25 years of experience in higher education as a scholar and administrator, most recently as the director of the Antioch Center for Creative Change at Antioch University Seattle. She will assume her responsibilities as Dean on Aug. 15, 2005, taking over from Interim Dean Robert Jolley.

Woolever’s appointment culminates a nationwide search that began last fall. The search committee, comprising of faculty, students, staff and community representatives, recognized Woolever’s understanding of the college’s urban mission, her effectiveness in outreach and community engagement, her commitment to high standards of undergraduate education, and fiscal and strategic leadership.

In his announcement Provost Mallory noted that “Dr. Woolever will be the first external candidate to serve as dean at UNH Manchester since its consolidation in the millyard in the 1990s. She has just the right background and perspective to assure the college’s success in the years ahead.”

The dean of UNH Manchester is responsible for the academic and administrative functions of the university’s urban campus, including programming, recruitment, retention, community engagement, and managing fiscal and capital resources. Provost Mallory noted Dr. Woolever’s “extensive experience in the design of innovative academic programs and curricula, a proven ability to connect higher education with community assets and needs, and a deep commitment to collaborative leadership.”

Woolever’s experience spans a wide range of academic and administrative areas. For the last five years Woolever has led the Antioch Center for Creative Change at Antioch University Seattle in a reorganization that included the development of alternative course delivery models resulting in increased enrollments and service to students. At Northeastern University in Boston, Woolever served in a number of positions between 1983 and 2000 including director of assessment, director of graduate studies, interim dean of cooperative education, and acting chair and professor of English. She served as a professional communications consultant to local, national, and multi-national corporations in a wide variety of industries. She served as a senior fellow at the New England Board of Higher Education and directed the Communicating Science and Technology Project and she co-founded and directed Northeastern’s Graduate Technical and Professional Writing Programs.

"It's a great privilege to be asked to lead the University of New Hampshire Manchester,” Woolever said. “This impressive campus is poised to play a dynamic role in the future of the Merrimack Valley. Together, the faculty, staff, and students at UNH Manchester have created a vibrant learning community that not only educates, but also supports and inspires students to succeed beyond the university's walls. That's rare indeed--especially in a growing urban environment such as Manchester.”

Woolever earned a Ph.D. and master's in English at the University of Pittsburgh and a bachelor's in English from Allegheny College. She has written seven books focused on professional and technical writing and numerous articles on a range of topics related to technical writing and communication in business, engineering and the law. Members of the UNH Manchester campus community enthusiastically supported her appointment and look forward to her leadership to the next stage of growth. “My goal is to work in increasing partnerships with the City and the region as we grow together toward an exciting and positive future,” explained Woolever. ”I'm genuinely looking forward to the challenge!”

Jolley served the college as interim dean since September 2004. He assumed the interim dean’s position when former Dean Karol LaCroix was appointed president of Granite State College, formerly the College for Lifelong Learning, in August 2004. Jolley’s effective leadership in the last year assures a smooth transition and position’s the college for future success. He will return to the Department of Social Work on the UNH campus in Durham in the fall.

UNH Manchester is the sixth college of the University of New Hampshire offering students who live and work in the state’s urban population center the opportunity to earn the recognized UNH degree. More than 1,500 undergraduate and graduate students participate in the university’s academic programs and access the UNH resources available in Manchester.