Published: Friday, August 31, 2012 1:08 AM CDT

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of the Press & Dakotan’s monthly series spotlighting occupations, tasks and duties in our coverage area.

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Officials at Mount Marty recently announced Dr. Krisma DeWitt will be moving into the role of Associate Dean of Academic Affairs of the Watertown and Sioux Falls locations. However, despite the change, she will continue to live in Yankton and teach at the Yankton campus.

Dr. DeWitt had served as the division chair to the department of natural sciences, and was also an associate professor of chemistry at the MMC campus in Yankton. Her new responsibilities in Watertown and Sioux Falls will be in addition to her responsibilities in Yankton

“I’m excited for this new position,” DeWitt said. “There’s a lot of opportunity to help the Watertown and Sioux Falls campuses grow and develop.”

Her new responsibilities include assisting with the strategic planning at the two sites, academic programming, faculty development and assessment, and community development, both internally and externally at both campuses.

DeWitt’s colleagues at MMC think she will do an outstanding job in the position.

“I am pleased that Dr. DeWitt has agreed to serve as associate dean for our Sioux Falls and Watertown locations,” MMC President Dr. Joseph Benoit said. “In creating the position, I was interesting in identifying a faculty member with administrative experience who had a strong understanding of academic affairs. I have full confidence in Dr. DeWitt’s abilities as a faculty member and administrator.”

Robert Tereshinski, MMC vice president and dean of Academic Affairs, echoes Benoit’s sentiments.

“Being a former faculty member with Dr. DeWitt, I know of her excellent leadership qualities and the potential to help improve the academic direction of our Watertown and Sioux Falls locations,” Tereshinski said. “I suggested to Dr. Benoit that she would be an excellent choice to take the position of associate dean for the    locations.”

One of DeWitt’s biggest short-term goals for the campuses is to ensure the standardization of academic programs at both locations. One of her long-term goals is for students at Watertown to have as close as an academic experience as students at the Yankton campus have.

“I’m looking forward to developing community for the two sites and making them feel more of a part of Mount Marty,” she said. “I’m also excited to help both sites develop new programs and improve the ones they have already.”

DeWitt, who is originally from Castlewood, has been at MMC for 13 years. She holds a BS in Chemistry from South Dakota State University, a master’s in chemistry from Kansas State University and an Ed.E. from the University of South Dakota.

“I’m looking forward to allowing the faculty at Watertown and Sioux Falls to develop and grow,” she said. “I want to help the faculty at both sites become even more successful.”

As part of her new responsibilities, DeWitt will not teach as many courses as she previously did. The only class she is teaching this year is freshman chemistry, which she enjoys because she is able to meet all the new students that come to MMC.

“I will miss spending time with some of the students that are science majors, which is what I have been able to do in the past when I taught more courses,” DeWitt said. “However, I love a new challenge and a new experience.”

She added she thinks she has the experience for the job after serving as the division chair to the Department of Natural Sciences.

“I will be doing for Watertown and Sioux Falls what I’ve been doing for the Natural Sciences division just on a larger scale,” DeWitt said.

“I think Dr. DeWitt’s academic capabilities to aid in leading our Watertown location is key to the future of both our main campus and the location in Watertown,” Tereshinski said.

“I really care about MMC and I really want the school to be successful so this is giving me the opportunity to impact that,” DeWitt added.

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