Kirkwood Community College has three new deans in place for the fall 2012 semester. Milford Muskett, Jimmy Reyes and Lori Woeste were hired after three national searches.
Muskett is the new Social Sciences and Career Options dean at Kirkwood. He comes from Shoreline Community College, Shoreline, WA, where he was the assistant dean of Social Sciences, and a professor of American Indian Studies, and Equity and Social Justice. Woeste, the new Math/Science dean at Kirkwood, comes from Illinois State University, where she served as assistant dean in the College of Applied Science and Technology. Reyes was hired from within Kirkwood. He was the interim dean of Nursing during the spring 2012 semester after being a faculty member since the summer of 2010.
All three deans bring broad backgrounds to their new positions and have advanced degrees in their fields.
Dean Milford Muskett
Dean Milford Muskett, Social Sciences & Career Options department
“Milford Muskett has been involved with the development of and implementation of multicultural programs, which will be a wonderful addition to our dean group expertise,” said Bill Lamb, Kirkwood vice president of Academic Affairs. “In addition, his Ph.D. is in Land Resources from the University of Wisconsin. His background in geography will also provide a new dimension to both our GIS program and geography courses.”
Muskett received his B.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies from Calvin College in Michigan, his M.A. in Geography from Western Michigan University and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin—Madison in Land Resources (Environmental Studies).
Muskett has taught a variety of courses ranging from environmental justice and multiculturalism in the workplace, to American Indian studies and environmental studies. His scholarly research interests are in Native American ecologies and multicultural identity in the context of nature and the environment.
“I was impressed by what Kirkwood had to offer in its courses and degree programs,” said Muskett. “I appreciate the commitment that Kirkwood for students in providing opportunities for life skills and education attainment. I also love the Midwest and am happy to be back in the region.”
Muskett grew up on the Navajo Reservation near Gallup, New Mexico. He is greatly involved in human and environmental rights activities. Muskett and his partner, Chris Windsor, love to travel to “colder” places, such as Alaska, Iceland and Tazmania.
Dean Jimmy Reyes, Nursing department
Dean Jimmy Reyes
“Jimmy Reyes comes to the dean position from our own faculty where he has made a significant impact on the new curriculum development,” said Lamb. “As the interim dean since January, he has worked to develop a strong team of full and part-time faculty as well as his office staff, and the service to students has already shown much improvement. We are fortunate to have both a skilled teacher and nurse in this role.”
Reyes received his BSN, MSN, and Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner degrees from the University of Iowa College of Nursing, and most recently, graduated with a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the same institution. He is finishing his Ph.D. in gerontology, the study of aging.
Reyes, a native of Peru, taught a variety of Nursing classes at Kirkwood, and mentors students at a migrant health clinic in Conesville, Iowa.
“I came to Kirkwood because I believe in the college’s motto, ‘Start Here, Go Anywhere,’” said Reyes. “I want to continue mentoring and guiding students to be leaders in nursing by obtaining higher education degrees, participating in leadership activities, and facilitating positive change in a community or population of interest.”
Reyes holds many leadership appointments, in particularly with Sigma Theta Tau, Gamma Chapter and the Building Academic Nursing Capacity Hartford Alumni program. He is also the co-founder of “MyHealthIowa” (MiSaludIowa), a nonprofit organization that facilitates students to develop, implement, disseminate and sustain community projects for underserved populations.
Reyes is an active participant of Bikram Yoga and enjoys bicycling and running. He enjoys reading Latin American literature and spending time with his family and friends.
Dean Lori Woeste
Dean Lori Woeste, Math/Science department
“Lori Woeste comes to the college with a strong administrative experience base at Illinois State University where she was an assistant dean,” said Lamb. “Her educational background in both biology and health sciences will help to make connections with a variety of our allied health programs.”
Woeste received her B.A. in Biology from Luther College, her M.S. in Health and her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, both from Illinois State University. Her career interests are in post-secondary education, curriculum design, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education, women and minorities in STEM, and mentoring.
“Kirkwood’s stellar reputation and focus on the student are the primary factors that brought me here,” said Woeste. “Kirkwood offers many of the same programs Illinois State University does. The courses in math and science are vital to the economic success of our communities, state and nation.”
Woeste was born in Cedar Rapids, and grew up in Janesville, Iowa. Her daughter recently graduated from Illinois State University and her son is a sophomore there. Woeste’s husband, Jim Kellogg, is from Strawberry Point. He is the director of the Student Health Service at the University of Iowa. She likes to travel and spend time with family.
The new deans replace retired Social Sciences/Career Options Dean Kathleen Van Steenhuyse, former Nursing Dean Sandra Cooper, who left to be district director of Health Care Education at the Maricopa Community Colleges in Arizona; and retired Math/Science Dean Bob Driggs.
Lori Woeste photo courtesy of Illinois State University