University of Southern Indiana names new Dean of Graduate Studies and Chief Communications Officer

The University of Southern Indiana has made two big announcements in regard to changes in the school’s leadership. Dr. Michael Dixon has been named Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and John Farless has been awarded the title of Chief Communications Officer. Both of these positions are the result of expansions within University departments. 

The University of Southern Indiana has newly created the School of Graduate Studies to replace the old Graduate Studies program and create a higher profile and more prestige for graduate level education at the University. Recently the University of Southern Indiana has an increasing number of enrolled students in all graduate studies subjects it provides. 

Dr. Dixon’s new position will be to create more coordination and collaboration between the new Graduate Studies School and the undergraduate focused colleges at the University. Previously, he was the Director of Graduate Studies after being the interim director from 2019. As the position is expanding with the school, Dr. Dixon’s goals have not changed and he will continue leading the strategic direction of graduate programs and graduate education policy. He will also be in charge of the admissions process for graduate students and the degree conferral process. His job will also include being Chair of the University Graduate Council as an advocate for the graduate community both within and without the University. 

University Provost Dr. Mohammed Khayum spoke on the expansion of the school in a press release posted on USI’s website: “Graduate Studies at USI has a strong record of success. The move to a School of Graduate Studies will help elevate this important area of the University and serve as a catalyst for continued growth in graduate programs across our four colleges. Dr. Dixon has been leading Graduate Studies since 2019, and I am confident that, as Dean, he will continue to foster collaboration and growth while continuing to produce exceptional graduate offerings that meet the needs of our students, the community, our state and beyond.”

Before becoming the Director of Graduate Studies in 2019, Dr. Dixon was the Director of the Classical Studies Program at USI’s College of Liberal Arts. He also has served as Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, Associate Dean, Interim Dean, and Assistant Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, as well as acting Chair of the History Department. 

Dr. Dixon was hired at the University of Southern Indiana in 2000 as an Assistant Professor of History. He was promoted to Associate Professor six years later and to full professor in 2015. He got his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in Classics, and went on to Ohio State University to get his Master’s and PhD. 

More information about the School of Graduate Studies can be found School of Graduate Studies.

John Farless, as the new Chief Communications Officer at the University of Southern Indiana, will lead Strategic Communication for the University as well as work with the new University Marketing Strategy department.

Previously, Farless held the position of Director of University Strategic Communication for USI for the past decade. He was initially hired on as a Senior Writer and was promoted the same year. Before coming to work for University of Southern Indiana, Farless spent more than a decade as the Associate Director of Communications at Saint Meinrad Archabbey and Seminary and School of Theology. Before that Farless was a Staff Writer, Photographer, and Interim Editor at the Perry County News.

Farless was educated at the University of Southern Indiana and received a bachelor's degree in communications and a master’s in business administration there. He also serves on USI’s Equity Diversity and Inclusion Council, the WNIN Community Advisory Board, and the USI Presidential COVID-19 Task Force. He has also been a member of the Saint Meinrad Communications Advisory Board as well as several other community organizations.

Vice President for Marketing and Communication at USI Kindra Strupp was quoted in a university press release as saying, “The University of Southern Indiana provided a quality education to John which has allowed him to soar personally and professionally. Today USI is very fortunate to benefit from his expertise as our chief communicator. As we strive to ignite enrollment and dare to enter Division I athletics, there has never been a more important need for ongoing communication to elevate the visibility and reputation of this institution and John is up to the challenge.” 

The University Strategic Communication that Farless will be heading up is a department that falls under the umbrella of the University Marketing and Communication unit. It provides oversight and strategies to maintain a clear and consistent message for the University across departments spanning the whole of the University. The department creates news releases, media pitches, copy and photographs for various publications, the USI website, crisis communication, video and multimedia production, social media, general communication both internally and externally, as well as the University magazine illume. 

For more information on the University of Southern Indiana, visit their website here.