Andrew Crighton
News Editor
Judith Noonan
Staff Writer
The 2016-2017 academic year at Idaho State University will begin with new faculty in several administrative positions. These changes will include the following positions: interim dean of the College of Science and Engineering, vice president for finance and administration, vice president for health sciences along with the recent creation of the executive vice president and provost position.
The College of Science and Engineering includes subjects such as chemistry, math, physics and biology. The dean’s job is to be the representative of the leadership of all units. Lyle Castle was named interim dean on June 19, 2016. While summer is coming to an end, a new academic year marks the time to start school again with a sense of renewal and energy. Castle looks forward to his new opportunities at the college and has been with ISU since 2004, where he worked as a professor of chemistry.
In high school, Castle decided to take a course in chemistry and ended up following the same passion as his father.
According to Castle, his goals as interim dean include being able to empower faculty with successful teaching, research and service, and to create an environment with more stimulating benefits. He pointed out the need to build stronger connections with regional high schools to show the region the high quality faculty ISU has to offer.
Castle also mentioned the importance of having stronger associations with the Idaho National Laboratory.
One of the challenges Castle mentioned he will face is how to spend money to best accomplish the college’s mission.
The position of vice president for finance and administration was previously held by James A. Fletcher. On Monday August 1, 2016 President Arthur Vailas announced that Fletcher would be taking paid personal leave from the university. Fletcher has been a member of the ISU staff since 2007, and will continue to be an ISU employee until his return which has not been specified. In the same statement, Vailas named Fletcher’s interim replacement, Brain Hickenlooper.
Hickenlooper has served for several years as the assistant vice president for finance and administration.
“I am ready to step into this position and use my talents and abilities to lead the financial operations,” Hickenlooper said in a press release.
The new vice president for health sciences has been named. As of July 1, 2016, Rex Force will assume all duties of this office.
Force has been a member of the ISU faculty since 1993 and has held several positions within the university including: associate dean for clinical research in the Division of Health Science and Director of the Idaho Center for Health Research and the Family Medicine Clinical Research Center.
Force holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.
On August 11, 2016 the university announced the Idaho State Board of Education approved the creation of a new administrative position, the executive vice president and provost.
The purpose of this position is to further delegate tasks associated with running the university and allow President Vailas to focus on strategies for the university instead of its everyday operation.
Laura Woodworth-Ney was approved to take control of this position at the same time as its creation.
As EVPP, Woodworth-Ney will have direct oversight in all aspects of running the university including research, academic affairs, finance and administration, outreach and libraries among other duties.
Woodworth-Ney has served ISU since 1999 as provost and vice president of academic affairs and as the associate vice president of academic affairs. Prior to these positions she held positions such as chair of the department of history, co-director of women’s studies and as a member of the ISU Faculty Senate.
