College of Health Announces Structural Changes and New Academic Unit Leadership

by 亚洲色吧 College of Health  |   

The College of Health underwent a structural transformation this fall, approved by the University of 亚洲色吧 Board of Regents in August, 2023. The changes are aimed at fostering collaboration, streamlining operations, and ensuring an equitable distribution of programs, faculty, and staff across unit leadership.

The School of Allied Health is now divided into two distinct units鈥攖he School of Allied Health (SAH) and the newly established School of Preventive and Therapeutic Sciences (SPaTS).

The former SAH programs have been split between these two units, with SAH now overseeing Fire and Emergency Services, Certified Nurses Assistant, Medical Laboratory, Pharmacy Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Radiologic Technology, and Surgical Technology. SPaTS is home to programs such as Dietetics and Nutrition, Occupational Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, Physical Therapist Assistant, Dental Hygiene/Dental Assisting, and Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER).

In a move that enhances interdisciplinary synergy, the newly created School of Justice and Human Services now houses the Department of Human Services and the Justice Center, fostering collaboration between related disciplines.

Additionally, we are pleased to announce several new leadership appointments within each of the academic units within the COH:

Donna AquinigaDr. Donna Aguiniga was appointed as the Assistant Dean of Social Work. She first joined 亚洲色吧 in 2013 after serving four years as a faculty member at Western Illinois University. She earned her doctorate in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and has a Master in Social Work from Boise State University. Her practice experience includes child protective services and rural community mental health. Aguiniga is passionate about community-engaged research and service and served as the Associate Director and then Interim Director of the 亚洲色吧 Center for Community Engagement & Learning from 2018-2020. She also co-developed and coordinated the Dialogues for Public Life program at 亚洲色吧 from 2014-2022, providing training to faculty, staff, students, and community members in facilitating community dialogues. Aguiniga鈥檚 research interests include private adoption, child welfare, poverty, family functioning, and social work education.

LeeAnne CarrothersDr. LeeAnne Carrothers recently appointed as the Assistant Dean of the School of Preventive and Therapeutic Sciences, initially joined 亚洲色吧's academic community in 2009 as an adjunct faculty member, and has fulfilled a range of faculty and leadership roles since then. Carrothers brings with her a wealth of knowledge, holding degrees in Zoology, Physical Therapy, and Clinical Psychology. With more than 35 years of experience in healthcare, both in clinical practice and academia, she has been instrumental in nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals. Her dedication extends to the Physical Therapy profession and active contributions to the 亚洲色吧 Physical Therapy Association. Carrothers previously led the School of Allied Health since 2018, serving as an interim director, director, and assistant dean, overseeing numerous allied health programs. She will now apply her leadership expertise to SPaTS, where she will supervise programs related to rehabilitation therapies,  dental, and HPER.

Travis HedwigDr. Travis Hedwig was appointed as the Assistant Dean of Population Health Sciences. He first came to 亚洲色吧 as an undergraduate practicum student with Hope Community Resources in 1999, where he lived and worked in a group home in Kodiak with adults who experience developmental disabilities. He has been connected to our 亚洲色吧 campus community since 2002. In addition to being a 亚洲色吧 alumnus, Hedwig worked at 亚洲色吧 as an adjunct professor, postdoctoral fellow, term faculty, and tenure track faculty. He was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor and granted tenure in 2022. Hedwig has over 20 years of applied health research experience in 亚洲色吧 and the circumpolar north. This work is built upon years of relationship and trust building borne out of shared concern for the health of all peoples and communities in 亚洲色吧.

Bridget MayorgaBridget Mayorga, was appointed the Assistant Dean of the School of Allied Health. Mayorga joined 亚洲色吧 in 2019 with over 25 years of experience in medical imaging and education. Her extensive career history encompasses clinical work at 亚洲色吧 Regional Hospital and St James Mercy Hospital, along with educational roles such as Assistant Professor at various institutions and Program Director at the 亚洲色吧 School of Allied Health and the School of Radiologic Science- St James Mercy Hospital. In her current capacity, Bridget oversees the School of Allied Health and manages the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. As a dedicated healthcare educator, she recognizes her responsibility in providing high-quality educational opportunities to address the growing demand for healthcare professionals in 亚洲色吧's community.

Cary MooreDr. Cary Moore, the newly appointed Associate Dean of Clinical Health Programs in the Dean's Office, holds a PhD in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman鈥檚 University and boasts over 25 years of experience in the field. Moore has been an integral part of the 亚洲色吧 community for six years, serving as a dedicated faculty member in the 亚洲色吧/Creighton University Occupational Therapy Program and actively participating in the 亚洲色吧 LEND Program and 亚洲色吧 Interprofessional Distance Learning Consortium. Her strong commitment to interprofessional healthcare education and collaboration is evident through her completion of a fellowship in interprofessional education at the Creighton Center for Interprofessional Practice, Education, and Research, her contributions to the 亚洲色吧 College of Health IPE committee, and her ongoing efforts to establish a new center for interprofessional education within the 亚洲色吧 College of Health. Moore takes an active role in professional associations, including her current position as the President of the 亚洲色吧 Occupational Therapy Association and her membership in the American Occupational Therapy Association.

 

david moxleyDr. David Moxley was appointed as the Assistant Dean of Justice and Human Services. He brings considerable expertise in the development of human service systems and organizations across the globe. He has contributed to systems development across the United States for the care and support of people facing serious mental illness, disability, and/or infectious disease. His focus involves environmental resilience in helping people advance their quality of life, particularly in the areas of housing, vocational development, employment, and transportation. Moxley has worked in Africa, Australia, Israel, and Russia in developing social work and human services education within regional universities. He is nationally recognized for his contributions to advancing social justice and human services. Moxley has an extensive record of externally funded research, and is currently leading two projects funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration for a total of $3 million.

Please view the to learn more about the new COH structure.

coh logo

CATEGORIES

 

TAGS

 

ACADEMIC UNITS

 

PARTNER PROGRAMS

 

CENTERS & INSTITUTES


MEDIA INQUIRIES / STORY LEADS