Search for New Turner College Dean Delayed Until 2027

According to CSU Provost Dustin Anderson's recent report to the CSU Faculty Senate, the search for the next Turner College Dean will begin with listening sessions that will kick off in January of 2027. The search, which is being chaired by Margie Yates, is being conducted to replace former Turner College Dean Deborah Kidder, who now leads the business school at Kutztown University. Anderson also reported that the Buffkin Baker search firm will be handling the process. In announcing Kidder's removal as dean late in fall semester 2025, Turner College faculty and staff were informed that the search for her replacement would begin in January 2026, and that former Turner College Associate Dean Tesa Leonce would serve as Acting Dean through the summer of 2026. If Kidder's replacement were not on board by August of 2026, Turner College faculty were told that Leonce would shift to Interim Dean for the 2026-2027 academic year and that the search for Kidder's replacement would begin anew at the start of fall semester 2026. As reported here and elsewhere, the Turner College's enrollment situation has worsened over the past few years and its next AACSB accreditation cycle is just over the horizon. With the search now set to begin in January 2027, it is likely that Leonce will continue to serve as Interim Dean through the 2027-2028 academic year and that a new permanent dean for the Turner College will not begin his or her tenure until July of 2028 and be up and running for the 2028-2029 academic year. By then the Turner College's AACSB will have occurred under an interim dean.