WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Aug. 18, 2021 — As the 2021 – 2022 school year begins, West Liberty University announces academic changes now in place.
WLU has combined two of its colleges, the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Arts and Communication into the restructured College of Liberal and Creative Arts.
“This decision to combine the two colleges has been in the works since 2019 and is now coming to fruition. The result will be a streamlined, more efficient and robust academic college to address the needs of our students, faculty and staff,” explained Dr. W. Franklin Evans, WLU president.
Dr. Cecilia Konchar Farr was hired after a national search to be the Dean of the College of Liberal and Creative Arts. She previously was a professor of English and Women’s Studies at St. Catherine University, St. Paul, Minn. Also, a Carondelet Scholar, Farr was employed at St. Catherine’s since 1994.
Farr earned a doctoral degree in literature and theory at Michigan State University, and both a master’s in literature and bachelor’s in English at Brigham Young University, (Utah). She earned her undergraduate degree in journalism and French at Slippery Rock University (Pa.).
Other academic leaders joining WLU this fall include:
Dr. Ann Saurbier, Dean of the Gary E. West College of Business. Prior to joining WLU, Saurbier was a professor of management at Walsh College, Troy, Mich., where she acted as Chair of Doctoral Programs and of the Management Department for a time. She joined Walsh in 1997.
Saurbier earned a doctoral degree in management in executive leadership and a master’s degree in management at Walsh. Saurbier earned her undergraduate degree in accountancy at Miami University (Ohio).
Dr. Vincent Mumford was named Interim Dean of Graduate Studies. Prior to this, he was a professor and Division Director for Sport Management at Central Michigan University. He has experience in multiple leadership roles including program director, executive director, assistant vice president for academic affairs, and vice president for academic affairs.
Mumford earned a doctorate degree from the University of Delaware in Educational Leadership, with a specialization in Administration and Policy. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Harvard Institute for Management and Leadership in Education. Mumford will hold this position at WLU until a permanent dean is hired.
Additionally, the university utilized the assistance of an outside agency to select an Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs/Provost and has selected Dr. Bonnie Suderman to serve in this position while a full-scale search is held to replace WLU’s recently retired provost.
Suderman most recently served at Louisburg College (N.C.) as vice president of Academic Life and Dean of Faculty. She earned her doctoral degree from University of the Pacific, (Calif.), a master’s degree in literacy from California State University-Bakersfield, and her bachelor’s degree in humanities from Biola University (Calif.).
West Liberty University welcomes back its residential students in safe, staggered fashion as students move into housing from Aug. 19 – Aug. 22. Masks are required in all classrooms and buildings on campus.
Graduate school classes begin at the Highlands Center on Saturday, Aug. 21 and undergraduates begin classes on the Hilltop campus on Monday, Aug. 23.
New students are invited to enroll through Sept. 1. Please call 304.336.8076 to apply. For complete information on West Liberty University, please visit westliberty.edu.
