6 minute read
Newton to Ship
Shippensburg Welcomes Provost Dr. Darrell Newton
On July 1, 2024, Shippensburg University welcomed new provost and vice president for Academic Affairs Dr. Darrell Newton. It is a role he was inspired to pursue from a young age and one he steps into with great pride and hope for the future of Ship.
“I always wanted to be a college professor. As a child I had several relatives involved in higher education including my Uncle Mason and Aunt Gloria, both of whom taught at Florida A&M University,” shared Newton.
He would visit his aunt and uncle on campus as they taught summer classes and even got to sit in on a class or two. He would go on to attend his first college graduation ceremony years later and that moment sealed the deal for him.
“Seeing all those people dressed in gowns and regalia, many of whom looked like me, filled me with wonder and pride. I knew right then what my career path would be,” said Newton.
It was not just the pomp and circumstance that captivated Newton though. He realized that through higher education, he could make a difference in the lives of others.
When he first started teaching in 1991, he discovered that very few of his students ever received instruction from someone who looked like him.
“This opportunity opened the door to a range of possibilities regarding both standard pedagogical practices and intrinsic ones. I could offer lessons they could not glean from any standard syllabus or the library,” said Newton.
Newton’s path in higher education officially began at the University of Wisconsin, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication. He went on to earn a Master of Arts in English from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and an MA and PhD in communication arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
A childhood passion for science fiction was the driving force behind his pursuit of an MA in English.
“Many nights, I studied the works of Bradbury, Heilein, Asimov, Burgess, Simak, and others. I was so fascinated with the images they wove within me that I longed to do the same for others,” he said.
Moving forward, it was his fascination with the power of media that fueled the rest of his academic journey and future research.
“Mediated messaging shapes how individuals see the world, how they perceive others unlike them, and how they imagine the past and the future. When considering my research questions, I longed to determine what certain theorists thought about these issues, hence the qualitative research into media effects and, in my case, the BBC and race,” he explained.
Newton would eventually become a member of the Communication Arts faculty at the Salisbury State University, and also served as a department chair and associate dean in the School of Liberal Arts. He would continue to follow his childhood dream of working in higher education as the associate vice chancellor for Academic Affairs and dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire.
Before arriving at Ship he served as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Winona State, a public university serving 6,545 graduate and undergraduate students. In this role, he led six academic colleges and eight administrative and service departments including Adult and Continuing Education, Grants and Sponsored Projects, Information Technology, Institutional Planning, Assessment and Research Services, International Programs and Study Abroad, the Library, and Outreach and Continuing Education.
At Winona State, Newton expanded online and hybrid programming with the identification of target audiences, modeling, and staffing. This included the establishment of measurable goals within Academic Affairs. He also worked to secure funding through the Minn State System allowing his office to support the Adult and Continuing Education Office, and advance support for adult returning students.
Before his time at Winona State, Newton was the associate vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and Dean of Graduate Studies. Prior to that, he served at Salisbury State as a member of the Communication Arts faculty, a department chair and associate dean in the School of Liberal Arts.
“Dr. Newton’s proven experience provides the strategic leadership required to continue to allow Shippensburg University to deliver high-quality academic programs through assessment, accreditation, and innovative modalities,” said Dr. Charles E. Patterson, president of Shippensburg University.
But for Newton, his decision to take on the role of provost was inspired by much more than his professional alignment with the institution.
“What really convinced me was meeting with the search committee at the end of my second day of a whirlwind interview.
At a time in which the group could have taken me to task with a kind of inquiry that hedged on a court trial, we instead discussed vital issues regarding the health of the institution like old friends. I was deeply impressed with how kind, focused, and dedicated these folks were. I knew that here was where I belonged,” Newton shared.
As he settles into his new role at Ship, he is increasingly impressed with the culture at Ship.
“My wife and I participated in the breakfast bingo this fall. The ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ comments from students blew me away. I greatly appreciate the respectfulness of Ship’s students,” he said.
Beyond the warm and welcoming culture that Newton has experienced since his arrival, his work is also inspired by the potential he sees for Ship.
Newton is excited about the opportunities that exist with online programs that can serve a diverse array of students, especially adult returners.
He is especially focused on those who want to “finish their degrees and improve their lives.”
With this goal in mind and his appreciation of the kind and collaborative spirit at Ship, Newton is hopeful about the future.
“All of this must include faculty and staff support, however possible, and with student service at the forefront. I have many colleagues who feel the same way. This creates a plethora of possibilities,” he said.
