GateWay Community College Dean Forums set for Aug. 1.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016
GateWay Community College Campus Photo

Finalists for the Dean of Liberal Arts and Learning Support position at GateWay Community College have been selected.

Public Forums and a question and answer session will be held on Monday, Aug. 1 from noon to 3 p.m. in the Center for Teaching and Learning/MA1240. Forum schedule and candidate bios are below. 

Noon – Dr. Maura Abrahamson
1 p.m. – Dr. Milford Muskett
2 p.m. – Dr. Amy Diaz

Dr. Maura Abrahamson; Forum at 12 p.m.

has more than 20 years of teaching and leadership experience. Abrahamson began her career at Morton College as a full-time Social Sciences instructor. She was voted Faculty of the Year in 1997 and granted tenure in 1998. In 2000, Abrahamson became Coordinator of Social Sciences and in 2009 she moved into the role of Department Chair. During her tenure, Abrahamson was Co-Chair of the Assessment Committee, Vice Chair of the Faculty Assembly, Co-Chair of the Faculty Development Committee and a member of the Strategic Planning Committee.

Abrahamson also served as a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission. Recently she was appointed to the Institutional Actions Council (IAC) by the Board of Trustees of the Higher Learning Commission. In 2012, Abrahamson also served as the Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) and helped prepare Morton College for accreditation visits. She has sought opportunities to adopt practices that ensure retention, persistence and completion

Abrahamson earned her bachelor’s degree in History and Hebrew Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her master’s degree in Comparative Religions and Doctoral degree in Geography from the University of Chicago.

Dr. Milford Muskett; Forum at 1 p.m.

currently serves as the Dean of Liberal Arts and Fine Arts at Saint Paul College in St. Paul, Minn. Muskett also served as the Dean of Social Sciences and Public Services at Delaware County Community College in Media, Pa. Prior to his administrative positions, he was a faculty member in Environmental Studies, American Indian Studies and Equity & Social Justice Programs at Shoreline Community College in Seattle. Shortly after starting there, he received tenure and was promoted to Professor and soon became an Assistant Dean of Social Sciences.

After completing his Ph.D., Muskett served in a research and teaching capacity at Cornell University, and left to solely focus on teaching. He has been involved in many community activities from volunteering at the local food banks, assisting ethnic minority students in their pursuits in education, and advising young people with their many multicultural issues—disabilities, LGBTs, poverty, etc.

Muskett earned his bachelor’s degree in Geography and Environmental Studies from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., a master’s degree in Geography from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, and his Ph.D. in Environment and Resources with minors in Law and History from the University of Wisconsin–Madison Gaylord Nelson’s Institute for Environmental Studies.

Dr. Amy Diaz; Forum at 2 p.m.

has 21 years of experience focused on community college student access, learning and success. During her tenure at Rock Valley College in Rockford, Ill., Diaz served as a counselor, instructor, director and dean with her most recent role as Associate Vice President of Student Development for the past 12 years.

Prior to joining the team at Rock Valley College (RVC), Diaz was a junior high school mathematics teacher in Beloit, Wis., for six years. At RVC, she taught courses in Education; Fitness, Wellness & Sport; and Mathematics. Diaz provided administrative, programmatic and instructional oversight to courses taught through Student Development (STU 100 – Planning for Success, STU 101 – Career Planning, and STU 299 – Service Learning).  She has also taught graduate level courses in educational psychology at Aurora University-George Williams Campus and Northern Illinois University. Diaz has a broad scope of experience in course and program assessment, evaluation for re-accreditation, strategic enrollment management, early alert and other retention practices, academic support and behavioral intervention team processes.

Diaz earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary mathematics education; a master’s degree in counseling for higher education and a doctorate in educational psychology.