SHM welcomes interim dean
Posted: January 20, 2009KIRKSVILLE, Mo. (Jan. 20, 2009) – The online School of Health Management bid farewell to its dean of three years, Jon Persavich, Ph.D., on December 17 and welcomed Kimberly O’Reilly, D.H.Ed., M.S.W., who served as SHM’s vice dean for the past three years, as interim dean.
Dr. Persavich accepted a position with the Online Learning Division of Corinthian Colleges, Inc., as division vice president of education and provost, where he will be responsible for more than 30 campuses, more than 500 adjunct faculty, and more than 12,000 students.
Under Dr. Persavich’s leadership, SHM’s student body grew four-fold in the last two-and-a-half years, leading SHM to expand its existing facility in July. Their $350,000 construction more than doubled the size of their facility, allowing SHM to increase staff to accommodate their growing student body.
Dr. O’Reilly assumed her role as interim dean December 18 and is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
“I am blessed with the opportunity to promote a University in which I believe and with a team that is capable, dedicated, and excited about the future of SHM,” said Dr. O’Reilly. “We face the challenge of promoting quality education that is engaging, beneficial, and desired. We are fortunate to be a part of a dynamic group of schools which share a passion for education in the health field, and we have the unique opportunity to join forces with each of the schools within the University to bring a collective and diverse understanding of health management and education to our students.”
Dr. O’Reilly is an alumnus of Purdue University, Indiana University, and ATSU-SHM. She practiced in the field of mental health for five years prior to entering higher education. Since 2004, she worked in online education teaching, creating assessment plans, developing and designing curriculum, developing programs and individualized education plans, and providing both faculty and student support services.