Academic Affairs Leadership Updates: McCool, Palmore, Smith

Nancy Hellerud, vice president for Academic Affairs, is pleased to announce the following leadership appointments:

Kyle McCool, senior director of Academic Advising, has been named interim director of the Reeg Academic Resource Center (ARC). In this role, she will oversee the operations and staff of the Reeg ARC, including the Summer TAP program for conditionally-admitted students, and will chair the search for the new director of the Reeg ARC.

“Kyle and the advising team are long-time partners of the Reeg ARC staff in championing student academic success,” said Hellerud.  “The shared focus on student retention and degree completion through Starfish, outreach, communication and other programming has strengthened the student experience at Webster. With Kyle as interim director, we can look for additional ways to collaborate for student success.”

Erik Palmore has been named senior director in the Office of Academic Affairs. In this role, he will continue to direct the Faculty Development Center (FDC) and will also direct the Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE).

“Erik has long been leading initiatives that have strengthened our academic and operational effectiveness,” said Hellerud. “The Academic Affairs Technology Committee that convened ‘ad hoc’ during COVID to deal with our transitional technology needs has grown into a standing committee of faculty from across the schools and colleges to address and prioritize academic technology needs. His participation in the earlier Academic and Operational Efficiencies Working Group resulted in a course scheduling tool now used widely at Webster, and his development of data reports for tracking retention are the foundation for the graduate and undergraduate retention groups.”

As senior director, Palmore’s work will include developing additional ways for Webster stakeholders to access and use data and creating a “home base” for existing and new technology for teaching and learning.    

Rita Smith has been named senior director for Academic Resources and Planning in the Office of Academic Affairs.

“Rita’s areas of oversight have expanded in the past years to include significant work with international campus budgeting and operations, including the setup of new locations beginning with Webster Tashkent,” said Hellerud. “She is a member of the university’s Budget Steering and Control Committee, which guides the development of the annual enrollment and financial plan and works with academic units and campuses across the global network.”

As senior director, Smith continues to oversee Office of Academic Affairs' functions, including faculty contracts, academic catalogs, support for curriculum committees and the IRB, and faculty grants and awards.