Dr. Jenna Templeton has recently been named Chatham University’s new Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Templeton received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Education in Counselor Education for Rehabilitation Counseling from Penn State University. She went on to earn her Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Leadership for Higher Education from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Before she joined the Chatham community, Templeton served in several positions at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, including Associate Dean of Distance Education, Director of Student Life, Disability Services Coordinator, Counselor, and Director of Online Academic and Support Services.
At Chatham, Templeton was the Assistant Dean in the College of Continuing and Professional Studies and the College of Graduate Studies. She took over as Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs upon the departure of Wenying Xu in June of 2014. This November, she was officially promoted to Vice President of Academic Affairs.
“My background in counseling and organizational leadership have helped shape my working style and approach,” said Templeton. “Building relationships, working collaboratively toward common goals, appreciating/respecting individuals and diversity of opinions all are important in life and in work. My education and previous experiences build on these characteristics and prepare me for the work as [Vice President of Academic Affairs].”
In her new position—and as she was as Interim Vice President—Templeton is responsible for managing the curriculum, personnel, and the budget within the academic division. She works with Chatham’s deans and faculty, and she oversees all academic areas, including the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship, the Office of International Affairs, the Library and PACE Center, the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics, and the Office of the Registrar.
Templeton reports to President Esther Barazzone, and she works, as she describes it, “to advance the strategic priorities of Academic Affairs, as well as those of the University.”
Two of Templeton’s priorities in her new position are supporting the University through its reorganization and the undergraduate switch to co-education, and continuing Chatham’s history of providing students with quality education.
“Last summer, we developed a number of committees overseen by the Coordinating Committee on Coeducation, to push forward the important work of preparing to implement undergraduate coeducation in Fall 2015,” said Templeton about her department’s efforts thus far to ensure the University’s successful reorganization.
According to Templeton, these committees and projects—including Chatham’s Women’s Institute, which has received much buzz since it was announced earlier in the year—are, “identifying needs and solutions to help ensure we are working towards a smooth transition,” to coeducation.
To ensure the quality of Chatham’s academics, Templeton plans to work, “with deans and faculty to assess programs and courses, develop new program opportunities, and continue to collaborate across the university to ensure a comprehensive approach.”
All of Templeton’s work is ultimately to serve the people of Chatham.
“The most influential part of my time at Chatham so far has been the people—the faculty, the deans, the staff, the administration, and the students,” said Templeton. “Their collaborative nature, focus on providing (and receiving) quality educational experiences, [and] generosity of time and talent are just of few of the characteristics that represent this community and makes working at Chatham such a wonderful experience.”