DPT Director Friel named vice provost over health sciences

by Chuck Gordon

Dr. Karen Friel, director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, is joining Wingate's administration as vice provost and dean of the Levine College of Health Sciences. She begins in her new role today.

Starting in the new year, Friel will serve under incoming provost Dr. Laura Hunt, who takes over her post Jan. 1. Dr. Eric Schneider, vice provost for institutional effectiveness, will continue as interim provost through the end of the year.

Friel has led Wingate's Department of Physical Therapy since January 2019, after over two decades as a full-time faculty member at the New York Institute of Technology. Since taking over WU DPT, she has overseen the successful 10-year reaccreditation process, spearheaded major curricular changes, and shepherded the program through the Covid-19 pandemic. Brett MacLennan is being promoted from associate director of DPT to program director.

"Dr. Friel's leadership skills were obvious from the beginning, as she brought a renewed sense of purpose to the department and helped unite the faculty towards common goals," MacLennan says. "Karen always likes to share a quote with faculty and students: 'Every opportunity is disguised as a challenge.' Karen epitomizes this quote, as she does not shy away from challenges but rather embraces them and looks for opportunities to learn and grow.

"Overall, Karen has done what you hope any leader will do, which is leave the department better than she found it."

Wingate President Rhett Brown says that Friel has impressed him with her innovative approach to leadership and her enthusiasm for working with other departments.

"After capably leading our DPT program, I'm so very grateful for Karen's willingness to accept this new challenge," Dr. Brown says. "Our health sciences programs have been terrific additions to our academic offerings, and with Dr. Friel's support I look forward to greater interprofessional collaboration and improved pathways from our undergraduate programs.

"I would also like to express my gratitude to Eric Schneider, for his willingness to step in and provide such capable leadership during this transition period."

Friel will serve as one of three vice provosts, joining Schneider and Dr. Brooke Mitchell, vice provost for academic success and initiatives. Schneider has been serving as interim provost since former provost Jeff Frederick left in May to become president of Drury University.

In her new role, Friel will oversee the Levine College of Health Sciences (LCHS), which houses Wingate's doctoral programs in pharmacy, physical therapy and occupational therapy, master's programs in physician assistant studies and public health, the bachelor's program in nursing, and the new doctor of medical science program, which begins this fall. Areas of emphasis for her position are leadership and strategy, academic and research excellence, faculty and staff development, and student experience.

"I am delighted that Karen Friel has agreed to serve as vice provost and dean of the Levine College of Health Sciences," Hunt says. "She will ensure we remain an innovative leader in these areas of strength."

"I have appreciated Dr. Friel's welcoming and collaborative relationship with her colleagues," says Dr. Erika Niland, chair of the biology department. "Additionally, she's an advocate for both faculty and students, with creative approaches to complex issues. I look forward to supporting her in her new role, and I am excited to see her skills help to progress Wingate into a dynamic leader of liberal arts and health sciences education."

One of Friel's main tasks will be enhancing collaboration between departments in the LCHS and between undergraduate and health sciences programs.

"I am really excited for the opportunity to build bridges and enhance synergies between our health science programs, and between the undergraduate side of campus and our health science programs, and to strengthen outreach to, and collaboration with, our community healthcare partners," Friel says. "A formal structure to the Levine College of Health Sciences, collectively, has been a long time coming, and I am eager to lead the efforts of this amazing and talented group of professionals. I am thrilled to be able to lend support to our Provost's Office and look forward to assisting with exciting new initiatives on campus."

MacLennan has been a Wingate DPT faculty member since June 2017. He takes over as program director after serving as associate director since January of this year. He has served on several committees and has been a senator in the Faculty Senate. MacLennan is working on a Ph.D. in leadership in health and human performance.

"Although I have only been in the associate program director role for eight months, my preparation for greater leadership responsibilities has been years in the making," he says. "I look forward to building on the solid foundation that Karen has established and helping our department, students and faculty grow even stronger."

Aug. 12, 2024

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.