Local professor appointed as new interim associate dean
Photographer: Neeley AllenDr. Dywayne Nicely, Interim Associate Dean at Ohio University Chillicothe
After an internal search, Ohio University Chillicothe has announced that Dywayne Nicely, associate professor of mathematics, has accepted the interim associate dean position. Dr. Nicely will begin his new position on July 2.
Since 2010, Nicely has been employed as a professor of mathematics for the Chillicothe campus. Starting as an assistant professor, he received tenure and was promoted to associate professor of mathematics in 2016.
His professional experience also includes serving as an assistant professor of mathematics for Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Florida, during the 2008-09 academic year and for the University of Charleston in Charleston, W est Virginia, during the 2009-10 academic year.
Nicely attended Marshall University in West Virginia and completed a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 2001 and a Master of Arts Degree in mathematics in 2003. Then, in 2008, he completed his doctoral degree in mathematics from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Nicely also served as a graduate teaching assistant at Marshall University from 2001-03 and at Baylor University from 2003-08.
During the next two months, Nicely will be working closely with current associate dean Brenda Phillips so that he can adjust to his new position and learn the duties of the job. Martin Tuck, dean of the Chillicothe Campus, remarked, “I strongly feel Dywayne possesses the organizational, management, and leadership skills to be a very effective associate dean for the campus and I look forward to working with him in this role.”
As someone who has never served in an administrator role in higher education, Nicely is looking forward to the challenge. He shared, “While my abilities and skill set will aid me in performing well in this position, this is also going to be a tremendous opportunity for me to grow and develop in new capacities. Education is a lifelong process and this exciting next step in my career is part of my continuing education.”
Over the last several years the associate dean role, due in part to the efforts of Dr. Brenda Phillips, has taken a better approach to enhancing the partnerships and collaboration with the community. Nicely commented, “I have some big shoes to fill in this position. I intend to uphold and grow upon some of the great works that Dr. Phillips has done with our community. However, I look forward to putting my own stamp on the job and furthering the campus’s influence and outreach in the community.”
“I’m also looking forward to working more closely with the staff and maintaining the positive relationships that I have with both the faculty and the staff at the Chillicothe campus,” shared Nicely.
Nicely and his family currently reside in Chillicothe, Ohio.