The restructuring will create four academic schools and will exemplify the university’s commitment to give students a fully integrated liberal arts education.
Wittenberg University has announced its academic restructuring that will create four academic schools under the leadership of the university’s new president, Dr. Christian M. M. Brady, whose tenure began in June 2025. The new structure will exemplify the university’s commitment to give students a fully integrated liberal arts education.
According to an article on Wittenberg University’s website, President Christian M. M. Brady was quoted as saying of the change, “Wittenberg has consistently delivered a rigorous liberal arts education, which is grounded in intellectual inquiry and committed to preparing students not only for a career, but for a calling. What we are announcing today furthers our vision for academic excellence, elevates our faculty and their expertise, and allows us to continue to transform our students into confident, ethical leaders who are empowered for a lifetime of meaning and purpose.”
The new structure has been approved by the university’s Board of Directors, and includes The School of Arts, Communication, and Cultural Foundations, The School of Health, Education, and Sport Studies, The School of Science, Technology, and the Natural World, and The School of Business, Policy, and Ethics. Inaugural deans have been selected from Wittenberg’s faculty members. Travis Proctor, who is an associate professor of religion, will lead the School of Arts, Communication, and Cultural Foundations. John Thistlethwaite, an associate professor of health & sport studies, will lead the School of Health, Education, and Sport Studies. Matt Collier, who is a professor of biology and department chair, as well as a pre-health advisor, will lead the School of Science, Technology, and the Natural World. Ross Jackson, who is an associate professor of business & economics and the program director for the graduate program in analytics, will lead the School of Business, Policy, and Ethics.
Speaking of the appointment of existing faculty members to dean positions, Provost and Professor of Education Brian Yontz said, “Wittenberg is home to an exceptionally gifted faculty that is committed to each and every student’s success. That commitment, I’m proud to say, will be front and center as we launch this exciting new model for teaching and learning.”
Yontz also expressed his gratitude for the committee that helped create the four-school academic structure. He said, “I want to thank this committee for its exceptional work in bringing multiple models before us. These four schools will take students on an immersive journey, one that will enable them to engage in cross-disciplinary work in such areas as the arts, business, communication, culture, education, ethics, health, science, sport studies, and the natural world.” They will also “create meaningful connections and integration, exactly in the way students’ future careers and lives will demand.”
This committee was led by Yontz and included Kristin Cline in chemistry, Alejandra Gimenez-Berger in art, Alyssa Hoofnagle in math & computer science, Ross Jackson in business & economics and analytics, Cathy Pederson in biological & environmental sciences, and Christian Raffensperger in history.
All current majors and minors fit within the new four-school academic structure. The university is committed to exemplifying a liberal arts education through this new structure and will aim to do so by having students take courses from each of the four schools. This structure will also open avenues for collaboration between departments, including the creation of new programs, collaborative research opportunities, and co-teaching.
Yontz said, “The new model will connect purpose with practice, and it will foster greater student outcomes and alumni success. It will also provide the core foundation of the Wittenberg Way of learning, leading, and living with light, as it delivers a new human-centered model for excellence in the liberal arts.”
For more information about Wittenberg University, visit the school’s website.