Administrative Changes Announced by College of Education and Health Professions

University Relations

Jeremy Battjes, from left, Jennifer Beasley and Janet Penner-Williams

The College of Education and Health Professions announces three administrative changes effective with the new fiscal year July 1.

The college previously announced the two-year appointment of a new dean, Michael T. Miller, also effective July 1.

"This is a team that we feel will work well together to keep moving the college forward, increasing our research funding, improving the quality of our academic programs and serving the state and region," Miller said.

The appointments are for one year.

Jeremy Battjes is serving in a dual role as interim assistant dean for administration along with continuing his current position as director of University Recreation. Battjes will oversee human resources to meet the college's current needs and plan for strategic growth, technology services including inventory, and facility needs to include serving as the college's building executive for maintenance purposes and supervising room scheduling.

Battjes will serve as lead administrator for the college in the People Admin system and will coordinate searches for new personnel. He will also serve as liaison between the college's human resources area and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance. He will oversee the college's business affairs.

Jennifer Beasley, assistant professor of childhood education, has been serving as graduate coordinator for the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and has been appointed director of the Office of Teacher Education for the college. She will oversee accreditation, licensure and field placement in the teacher-education programs.

Her responsibilities will include leading the professional education unit through the CAEP accreditation process, working with programs on continuous improvement and overseeing development of the annual assessment report. She will supervise the field placement director and licensure officer, provide support for deans, faculty and staff to ensure all ADE licensure programs meet state licensure requirements and ensure that the college develops and maintains partnerships with school districts.

Janet Penner-Williams will move into the role of interim senior associate dean for academic affairs. She has been serving as assistant dean for education. In her new role, Penner-Williams will oversee program reviews, will continue to oversee the College Course and Program Committee and will represent the college at the University Course and Program Committee, the Graduate Council and meetings called by the vice provost for research and economic development.

She will facilitate faculty promotion and tenure, oversee faculty evaluation reporting, prepare the college's annual report, and coordinate personnel policies and procedures, off-campus duty assignments, workload verification and Higher Learning Commission reporting of student outcomes. She will oversee the Office of Teacher Education and CAEP accreditation and the Arkansas Principal Fellows program and coordinate the college's commencement exercises.  

Fran Hagstrom will continue in her role as assistant dean for health professions.