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Denise A. Seachrist, Ph.D., of Rootstown, Ohio, has been selected to serve as dean and chief administrative officer of 91�ֿ� at Stark, located in North Canton, Ohio. Seachrist has served as interim dean of 91�ֿ� Stark, the only public university in Stark County and the largest Regional Campus of 91�ֿ�, since July 1, 2014. She will begin serving as the permanent dean on Feb. 1, 2016.

“91�ֿ� at Stark is a very vibrant and exciting place, and I am extremely honored to serve as dean and chief administrative officer,” Seachrist said. “I look forward to continuing to promote the campus’ excellent reputation while expanding our partnerships both in the community and globally.”

Todd Diacon, 91�ֿ�’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, shared his enthusiasm regarding the selection.

“We are pleased to welcome Denise Seachrist as the permanent dean of the Stark Campus,” he said. “Chosen as the result of a national search, she brings an outstanding mix of external relations skills, administrative experience and scholarly accomplishments. We value our Stark Campus family and are happy that Denise has agreed to accept this important assignment.”

Seachrist’s position reports to the provost or his designee until such time as the vice president for 91�ֿ� System Integration is appointed. The vice president will be charged with assessing the administrative structure of the Regional Campus system, including 91�ֿ� Stark.  

Prior to serving as interim dean and chief administrative officer of 91�ֿ� Stark, Seachrist served as the director of 91�ֿ�’s School of Music from 2008-2014. She holds the rank of professor. She also has served as interim associate provost, interim dean for Academic and Student Services, Regional Campuses and as interim assistant dean of 91�ֿ� at Trumbull.

Seachrist’s work as a faculty member and administrator has been recognized. In 2004, she was the recipient of the Trumbull Campus Outstanding Administrator Service Award. In 2001 and again in 2003, she received the Trumbull Campus Dean’s Award for Leadership and Service. In 1999, she received the Trumbull Campus Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Service Award and was selected as one of four delegates to represent 91�ֿ� in a 17-day educational exchange to China. She served on the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra’s Board of Trustees from 1998 to 2005, is a past-chair of the University Teaching Council and was a member of the 2004-2005 university’s Leadership Academy.

A specialist in the music of both historical and living German religious communities in Pennsylvania, Seachrist currently serves as president of the Communal Studies Association. She is a member of the editorial advisory board of the quarterly journal American Music published by the University of Illinois Press and served as a member of the editorial board for Pennsylvania-German History and Culture book series published by Penn State Press. She is the past series editor of the WorldMusics series published by 91�ֿ� Press, which is part of a joint effort by 91�ֿ� Press, Indiana University Press and Temple University Press.

She has authored 25 refereed journal articles, two book chapters and entries in Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart: Allgemeine Enzyklopädie der Musik, second edition, The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, and The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music, vol. 3, “The United States and Canada.” Seachrist is the author of Snow Hill: In the Shadows of the Ephrata Cloister (2010) and The Musical World of Halim El-Dabh (2003), both published by the 91�ֿ� Press.

A native of Columbiana County, Ohio, Seachrist received her Ph.D. in musicology-ethnomusicology from 91�ֿ� and a Master of Music in vocal performance from Youngstown State University. She also holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Heidelberg College.

For more information about 91�ֿ� Stark, visit www.kent.edu/stark.

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Media Contacts:

Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595
Cynthia Williams, cdwillia@kent.edu, 330-244-3262