Chicago Heights, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Two Prairie State College employees were appointed to dean positions at Prairie State College (PSC) after two nationwide searches.
Marie Hansel is the new dean of health professions and industrial technology, and Kim Kunce is the new dean of adult education.
Hansel will replace Gwen Dean, dean, health professions and director of nursing, who will retire on June 30, 2010. When Hansel assumes her new position, she will provide vision, leadership, and support to the departments of Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Surgical Technology, Nursing Assistant, Fitness and Exercise, EMT and First Responder, Paramedicine, Fire Science Technology, and Industrial Technology.
Hansel is currently an associate professor of nursing and the department chair/coordinator of health professions.
Prior to coming to PSC, Hansel was a nurse at St. James Hospital and covered a wide variety of areas including surgery and oncology. At St. James, she was also a nurse navigator, where she was responsible for educating medical staff to care for adults with cancer.
Hansel belongs to several professional organizations and volunteers at the Cancer Support Center, the American Cancer Society, and Y Me. She has an A.D.N. from Prairie State College, a B.S.N. from Governors State University, an M.S.N. from Purdue Calumet, and is currently a doctoral candidate at Governors State University with an expected graduation date of December 2010.
“With Ms. Hansel’s appointment, PSC is getting a professional in the true sense. She is driven less by personal ambition but mainly by her desire to see our college continue to grow in stature as a center of excellence in higher education locally and nationally,” said Adenuga Atewologun, vice president, academic affairs. “I am delighted to have her join the administrative team in academic affairs as dean, health professions and industrial technology.”
In her new position, Kunce is responsible for the development and coordination of the Adult Basic Education (ABE), General Educational Development (GED), English as a Second Language (ESL), literacy, and off-site adult education programs and services. She began her new position on April 1, 2010.
Prior to fulfilling the dean’s position, Kunce was the manager of adult education at PSC and oversaw the daily operations of ABE, GED, ESL, and adult literacy. She also held the position of community outreach coordinator for adult education and collaborated with local agencies to develop off campus classes. She was adjunct faculty for the college’s ABE and GED program.
She has a M.A. in Adult Education from National-Louis University and a B.A. in English from Western Illinois University.
“We were thrilled to offer this position to such a highly qualified internal candidate,” said Terri Winfree, vice president of community and economic development. “Having Kim Kunce as the dean in the adult education is very motivating to the staff, and she will continue to do an excellent job in providing services to the community.”
