Three new deans join 海角社区CI
By Zoe Lance
Vandana Kohli
Vandana Kohli鈥檚 passion for working with undergraduate students has always been rooted in the classroom. The new Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, which spans 20 academic programs, enjoys the thrill of seeing students question their own ideas and find their place in the university community.
鈥淲hen I was in the classroom, I observed how students reinforced or challenged their world views as they engaged with new intellectual material,鈥� she said. 鈥淭o be able to interact with undergraduates, and to help people get on the path of a career or additional higher educational opportunities, is my calling.鈥�
Kohli earned her doctorate in demography from Michigan State University, and has immersed herself in a career that is committed to community service and improving undergraduate educational outcomes. Prior to joining 海角社区CI, Kohli held faculty and leadership roles at 海角社区 Los Angeles and 海角社区 Bakersfield.
As she settles into the academic year, Kohli is looking forward to learning more about student, faculty and staff needs in the School of Arts & Sciences and embracing the tenets of the University鈥檚 new strategic initiatives.
Brian Sevier
Since arriving at 海角社区CI in fall 2017, Brian Sevier has had a phenomenal first year as the Dean of the School of Education. He cites attending the first ceremony 海角社区CI had to recognize credential program graduates, as well as undertaking re-accreditation for the school鈥檚 programs and a revamp of the school鈥檚 facilities, as hallmarks of the past academic year.
鈥淲e are doing great, exciting things at the School of Education,鈥� Sevier said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 real excitement for everyone in thinking about how we move forward.鈥�
Sevier came to 海角社区CI after extensive state-level and academic work in Colorado. He earned his doctorate in education at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Over the next year, Sevier is looking forward to working with the National Center for Teacher Residency, which will help the School of Education outline possible residency pathways for a number of K-12 Education programs. The school will also continue conducting focus groups with various Ventura County community members to learn more about how to prepare 海角社区CI education students for the county鈥檚 classrooms.
鈥淲hen you think about where you鈥檙e preparing teachers to teach, you鈥檙e preparing them for your local community,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he community should know that their best teachers come from the 海角社区CI School of Education.鈥�
Osman 脰zturgut
Osman 脰zturgut considers himself an 鈥渆dupreneuer鈥� 鈥� an educator whose mission is to help others gain access to opportunities and ideas that will help them grow. To him, that鈥檚 also the role of extended education at 海角社区CI.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking at how responsive we are to community needs,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the combination of education and business 鈥� how can we help people become better and more enlightened citizens?鈥�
As the Dean of Extended University and Associate Vice President for International Programs, 脰zturgut is responsible for overseeing a variety of bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚, certificate and community education programs at 海角社区CI鈥檚 Camarillo, Goleta and online campuses. He鈥檚 especially drawn to 海角社区CI鈥檚 focus on internationalism.
鈥淲e are so globally interconnected in economics and culture,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur students need to be aware of that and use that understanding to engage in their communities.鈥�
A native of Turkey, 脰zturgut received a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Missouri in St. Louis. He has a deep professional background in international education, and has lived and worked in many different countries. Prior to 海角社区CI, 脰zturgut was Dean of Research and Graduate Studies and tenured faculty member at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.
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漏聽Fall聽2018 / Volume 22 /Number 02聽/ Bi-annual