The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is proud to announce the appointment of two new members to the CLAS leadership team
Brenda J. Allen, PhD
Associate Dean for Planning, Implementation and Initiatives
and
Kuan-Yi Rose Chang, PhD
Assistant Dean for International, Continuing and Professional Education and Director of Chinese Language
These positions have been created based on the former responsibilities of associate dean Kathleen Bollard, who is returning to her department as chair of modern languages on July 31, and to reflect the growing role of international, continuing and professional education and strategic initiatives in the college. Allen and Chang’s appointments will begin on August 1.
Brenda J. Allen has been a professor in the CU system since 1989, when she came from Howard University in Washington, D.C. to the communication department on the Boulder campus. In 2001, she moved to the downtown Denver campus, where she currently is chair of the department of communication, and master mentor of the Tenure Track Mentor Program. Her research and teaching areas are organizational communication, diversity, group communication and computer-mediated communication. Among her numerous publications is a groundbreaking book entitled Difference Matters: Communicating Social Identity (2004, Waveland Press). She currently is co-editor of the International and Intercultural Communication Annual, and a member of several editorial boards. In addition to performing her duties at the university, she presents keynote speeches and conducts workshops for various groups on a range of topics, including diversity, presentational speaking, teamwork and self-empowerment.
Allen has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Francine Merritt Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Lives of Women in Communication from the National Communication Association (2004), Faculty Ally of the Year Award, Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Program, Auraria Campus (2002) and the Teacher Recognition Award from the Student Organization for Alumni Relations (Boulder, 1997). In January 2006, she received the first Annual Award for Outstanding Achievement for Commitment to Diversity at the University of Colorado Denver.
As the associate dean for planning, implementation and initiatives, Allen will provide leadership in critical strategic areas for the college. She will work closely with faculty, staff, students and administrative groups on implementing and refining the college’s strategic plan, using collaboration and communication to drive the process. This includes providing support and encouragement for the development and implementation of college signature areas and leadership for other college initiatives. Allen will serve as the liaison between the diversity committee and the CLAS dean’s office, and work with faculty and administrative groups to ensure implementation of the college’s diversity plan as part of the CLAS strategic plan. In the area of university consolidation, Allen will work closely with the vice chancellor for initiatives and with college personnel to facilitate and manage consolidation initiatives, such as the proposed new school of public health. Additionally, Allen will be responsible for the management and negotiation of space allocations for the college’s units, and provides advice and guidance for department chairs in the integrated sciences division of the college.
“Brenda’s expertise in organizational communication will enable our strategic plan to be implemented with integrity and care,” said Dean Jon Harbor. “Her talent in engaging faculty and staff in collaborative decision-making will prove invaluable in her role as associate dean.”
Allen expressed her enthusiasm about the position, saying "I am honored and pleased to be appointed to this important new position, which will allow me to apply and further develop my scholarship and expertise in organizational communication. I am excited about the opportunity to help our college achieve its potential to help the university accomplish its goals."
Kuan-yi Rose Chang, like Allen, is not new to the CU system. She comes to CLAS from the Boulder campus where she has been director of the Anderson Language Technology Center (ALTEC) since 1996. The center provides an array of multimedia materials and equipment to support and facilitate language instruction and student learning. By offering training on pedagogical uses of technology and its applications in language teaching, the center administers short-term, non-credit, enrichment language classes for the Boulder campus’ faculty, staff and graduate students.
With extensive experience in teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in English as a second language, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, language teaching methodology and foreign language assessment, Chang will be an asset to CLAS as the college initiates its program with the International College at Beijing. Chang has directed a summer cultural exchange program to China and Taiwan. She has served as a consultant to the University of Notre Dame on the design of a language technology center, focusing on curriculum integration, student outcome assessment and faculty development issues. As a consultant to Taipei American School (K-12), she helped redesign curriculum across languages, ensuring K-12 articulation and helped to determine assessment measures. She is also active in professional organizations and a frequent presenter at national and international conferences. Additionally, she is the co-founder of the Colorado Chinese Language Teachers Consortium and currently serves as its first president.
Chang is excited to join CLAS as assistant dean “because of the diverse and vibrant student body and faculty colleagues on the thriving UCDHSC campus.” She said, “This position enables me to combine my teaching and administrative experiences to engage in challenging new projects and initiatives that contribute to the overall goals of CLAS and the campus as a whole.”
As assistant dean for international colleges, continuing and professional education and director of Chinese language, Chang will manage all college activities associated with international initiatives (particularly the International College in Beijing [ICB]), including issues related to hiring, curriculum and budget. She will serve as the liaison for all matters associated with the Office of International Education (OIE) and the office of Continuing and Professional Education (CPE). Chang will oversee and expand the current D2/D3 programs in the college by seeking new avenues and course offerings. As assistant dean, Chang will also direct and teach in the Chinese language program for the department of modern languages.
“Rose will be an instant asset to our college with her strengths as an administrative leader, curriculum developer and teacher,” Dean Harbor said. “Being multilingual and having expertise in developing continuing education programs, Rose will serve the college and university well as we continue to expand our programs to engage more extensive professional and international audiences.”
“Our college is privileged to add these two exceptional academic and professional individuals to the CLAS leadership team,” said Dean Harbor. “They will help us achieve the shared vision articulated in our strategic plan, and accelerate achievement of our goal of delivering high quality and far-reaching academic programs that serve to launch and sustain the careers of members of the UCDHSC community.”
Contact: Katy Brown, 303-556-6663
IN THIS ISSUE:
June 29, 2007
SPECIAL EDITION
Announcement of New Associate Dean and Assistant Dean
ARCHIVES:
Past issues since Jan 21, 2007.
USEFUL LINKS:
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EDITORS:
Rick Wilson
303.556.2557
Rick.Wilson @cudenver.edu
Katy Brown
303.556.6663
Katy.Brown @cudenver.edu