Amy Rutstein-Riley Named Dean of Graduate School of Leadership and Change
Amy Rutstein-Riley, PhD, officially assumed the role of Dean of the Graduate School of Leadership and Change (GSLC) on July 1, 2024, marking an important transition for the program and the university.
Having served as Director of the GSLC PhD program and Associate Dean of the GSLC since July 2023, Rutstein-Riley worked closely with Laurien Alexandre, PhD, ensuring a smooth leadership handoff while continuing to foster the school’s mission of transformative leadership and social change. Alexandre’s enduring contributions over the past 35 years have left a profound impact, and her guidance during this transition was invaluable. Rutstein-Riley’s deep commitment to innovation in education, along with her extensive experience in academic leadership, positions her well to lead GSLC into its next chapter.
In addition to Rutstein-Riley’s appointment as Dean, the Graduate Management Programs, led by Mary Ann Short, PhD, will shift under GSLC’s administrative umbrella, further expanding the school’s interdisciplinary reach. Short will continue as Associate Dean of Graduate Management Programs.
Diane White Named Founding Dean of Graduate School of Nursing and Health Professions
Diane White, PhD, has joined Antioch as the founding Dean of the Graduate School of Nursing and Health Professions. This new school represents an important step forward in the collaborative efforts of the Coalition for the Common Good (CCG) and will eventually include the Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs, all transitioning from Antioch’s CCG partner, Otterbein University.
The Master of Science in Allied Health and the Master of Science in Athletic Training have already transitioned from Otterbein and are enrolling students now. A new Nurse Anesthetist Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree and a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics are currently under development.
White said she was drawn to this opportunity by her lifelong belief in access to high-quality healthcare education and her deep commitment to healthcare for all. A nurse by training, a lifelong educator, and a practitioner, she is committed to re-imagining healthcare in the United States, transforming it into a system that works
for all.
Antioch Appoints First-Ever Vice Chancellor for Equity, Belonging and Culture
On October 1, Stephanie Helms Pickett was promoted to serve as Antioch’s inaugural Vice Chancellor for Equity, Belonging and Culture. The creation of this position stems from work undertaken by Chancellor Groves and the Anti-Racism Task Force.
In this position and her previous appointment, Helms Pickett has strengthened social justice and anti-racism efforts within and across Antioch University.
She stands with her fellow DEI colleagues in the field, demonstrating a vital counter-narrative to the politicization of DEI work, inside and outside of higher education.
“Making a Positive Case for DEI in Higher Education”
The Seed Field Podcast – Season 8, Episode 1
When people mention Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—DEI for short—it’s often in the context of political fights and high-stakes arguments about what universities should and shouldn’t be allowed to do. But what if we backed up and asked, What is the positive case for DEI in higher education? For this episode, we talk to Stephanie Helms Pickett, a scholar and administrator who currently serves as Antioch University’s Vice Chancellor of Equity, Belonging, and Culture. The conversation includes a definition of terms, why universities have an obligation to help all students have a fair chance to compete, and a story about Stephanie’s shocking experience meeting her first college roommate.
