The College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences (LAS) will be hosting four finalists for the dean position on campus the week of April 21. All faculty, staff, students and interested members of the community are welcome and encouraged to attend each of the finalist’s campus presentations and ask questions about their qualifications to lead the college. The campus presentations will be open to all campus constituents.
See the full search committee listing below.
Constance Staley | Monday, April 21
Dr. Constance Staley is a Professor of Communication and currently serves as Interim Dean of the College of Letters, Arts & Sciences. She holds a B.S. in Education, an M.A. in Linguistics, and a Ph.D. in Communication. In her years at UCCS, she has been Department Chair, Acting Dean of the Graduate School, and Gateway Program Seminar Director from the time of its inception with a handful of sections until 2017, when 150 sections were offered to the University’s entire class of first-year students. She has won the University of Colorado Outstanding Teacher Award and was twice nominated for a CASE U.S. Professor of the Year Award.
Dr. Staley had the opportunity to serve as a Fulbright Scholar in the former Soviet Union and “stopped out” of the University for three years after achieving tenure to work full-time in the training department of an East Coast Fortune 500 company.
Pre-COVID, Dr. Staley traveled to campuses, companies, and conferences to deliver 15-20 keynote addresses per year on teaching in higher education and on corporate training, and she currently delivers national and international webinars on timely leadership topics. Prior to her work as Interim Dean this year, she taught courses such as Conflict and Negotiation, Creating a Learning Organization, Professional Speaking, and Advanced Virtual Presentations in the Department of Communication at UCCS.
Dr. Staley is an active scholar, having published 22 books and editions, written dozens of academic articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings, and delivered hundreds of presentations at other campuses and conferences, whether to audiences of 20 faculty in a workshop format, 800 faculty at Cengage’s Course Technology Conference, or 8,000 faculty at the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education with 35 campuses across Mexico. Because higher education faces leadership challenges and fast-paced change as never before, the future of work and more specifically the future of higher education are two of her current strong research interests.
- Campus Presentation Time and Location: Monday, April 21 from 8:45-9:45 a.m. in UC 303
- View the Campus Presentation Recording.
Submit a question for Constance here
Evaluation Form due Tuesday, April 29 by 5 p.m.
Bret Amundson | Tuesday, April 22
Dr. Bret Amundson is a visionary academic leader, accomplished conductor, and passionate educator with a career defined by innovation, collaboration, and excellence. He currently serves as Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota, where he also directs Bella Voce, the College’s premier treble ensemble. Dr. Amundson brings a blend of administrative acumen and artistic vitality to this role, fostering interdisciplinary initiatives and strategic partnerships that elevate student and faculty success.
With over a decade of progressive leadership at CSS—including prior roles as Dean of the School of Arts and Letters, Director of General Education, and Director of the First Year Program—Dr. Amundson has led numerous institutionally transformative efforts. These include launching a new general education program, new interdisciplinary programs, the successful merger of academic schools, and the development of innovative dual-degree pathways. His leadership has been instrumental in enhancing academic offerings, expanding student research opportunities, and cultivating inclusive and high-impact learning environments.
Outside the College, Dr. Amundson serves as Artistic Director of the Lake Superior Youth Chorus, where he has exponentially grown the organization’s reach, enrollment, and impact. Choirs under his direction are consistently recognized on state and national stages, including invitations to perform at American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) regional and state conferences. His dedication to community engagement and artistic excellence is reflected in initiatives like the “Still I Rise” concert series and Bella Voce’s acclaimed recordings.
Dr. Amundson holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington, a Master of Music from St. Cloud State University, and an MBA in Change and Leadership from CSS. His contributions to the field have earned him accolades such as ACDA-MN’s Outstanding Young Conductor Award and inclusion in Duluth’s “20 Under 40.” A sought-after clinician and thought leader, he continues to inspire through his commitment to transformative education and the power of music to connect, uplift, and lead.
Dr. Amundson lives in Duluth with his husband, Alex, a physical therapist currently earning a Master’s in Media, Medicine, and Health at Harvard Medical School.
- Campus Presentation Time and Location: Tuesday, April 22 from 8:45-9:45 a.m. in UC 302
- View the Campus Presentation Recording.
Submit a question for Bret here
Evaluation Form due Tuesday, April 29 by 5 p.m.
Christopher Moore | Wednesday, April 23
Christopher Moore, PhD, is the Dr. George F. Haddix Community Chair of Physical Science and a professor of physics at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO). He currently serves as chair of the Department of Physics and director of the UNO STEM Teaching, Research, and Inquiry-based Learning (TRAIL) Center. In these roles, he has advanced faculty success, student retention, and interdisciplinary collaboration across the sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities.
Over the past three years, Dr. Moore has helped secure more than $9.8 million through state and federal appropriations, donor gifts, and external grants to support faculty-led research, experiential learning, and regional workforce development. This includes $6 million for a new education facility with interactive classrooms, a digital “immersion” space, and a community event center. He also addressed infrastructure challenges in physics, combining donor and grant funds to drive $680,000 in classroom, lab, and instrumentation upgrades.
Through the STEM TRAIL Center, Dr. Moore supports a broad range of faculty-driven initiatives—including course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), interdisciplinary curriculum development, and community-engaged learning. The Center currently supports 24 faculty investigators across 14 departments and five colleges. Under his leadership, the Department of Physics nearly doubled its annual bachelor’s degree completions and increased federal grant awards by 271%. These efforts reflect his “elbows of experts” leadership philosophy—building collaborative spaces where students, faculty, and community partners work side by side to solve real-world problems.
Dr. Moore is internationally recognized for his work in institutional change and discipline-based education research (DBER). He is the author of Teaching Science Thinking and Creating Scientists, and co-author of the bestselling high school curricula Experience Chemistry and Experience Physics, used by more than a million students nationwide. His global engagement includes serving as a Fulbright Scholar in the Czech Republic and advising the U.S. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security on scientist re-engagement in conflict areas.
Prior to UNO, Dr. Moore served as associate professor of physics and engineering science at Coastal Carolina University and assistant professor of physics at Longwood University. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry, M.S. in Applied Physics, and B.S. in Physics from Virginia Commonwealth University.
- Campus Presentation Time and Location: Wednesday, April 23 from 8:45-9:45 a.m. in UC 302
- View the Campus Presentation Livestream here. A recording will be available after the event.
Submit a question for Chris here
Evaluation Form due Tuesday, April 29 by 5 p.m.
Amy Adamson | Thursday, April 24
Dr. Amy L. Adamson is the Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, where she has been a faculty member in the Biology Department since 2000, and Associate Dean for Research since 2019. With 25 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Adamson has dedicated her career to fostering academic excellence, promoting research, and enhancing student success and access to high-impact practices. Dr. Adamson earned her Ph.D. in Biology from The Johns Hopkins University, and a B.S. in Biochemistry from the State University of New York at Geneseo. Her scholarly work focuses on the molecular interactions between Epstein-Barr virus and human cells, with a focus on how the virus initiates intracellular changes that can trigger metastasis. Dr. Adamson’s research has been supported by the NIH, with a particular emphasis on the training of undergraduate students in research. At UNC Greensboro, Dr. Adamson has been a driving force behind the promotion of research, scholarship, and creative activities for faculty and students alike. By providing professional development opportunities and seed funding for faculty, the College of Arts and Sciences has seen a marked increase in external funding proposal and awards. She has also played an active role in promoting and recognizing student involvement in research and scholarship, an important contributor to student academic and post-college success. Dr. Adamson is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all students, faculty, and staff, as well as committed to a broad liberal arts and sciences education. Embracing the teacher-scholar model, advocating for innovative and interdisciplinary programming, and fostering a strong sense of community within the College, she is dedicated to education, and her visionary leadership continue to inspire those around her. Outside of work, Dr. Adamson enjoys hiking, pottery, and playing classical guitar. She is passionate about providing life-enriching experiences to all in her campus community, the creation of new opportunities to bolster academic and scholarly pursuits, and to recognizing and celebrating achievements.
- Campus Presentation Time and Location: Thursday, April 24 from 8:45-9:45 a.m. in UC 303
- View the Campus Presentation Livestream here. A recording will be available after the event.
Submit a question for Amy here
Evaluation Form due Tuesday, April 29 by 5 p.m.
Search Committee:
Co-Chairs:
- Susan Taylor – Vice Provost & Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education and Academic Planning; Professor of English
- Regina Winters – Associate Dean, College of Public Service; Teaching Professor of Public Administration
Committee Members:
- Markus Moeder-Chandler – Assistant Teaching Professor, Counseling & Human Services (Faculty Assembly Representative)
- Kim Uhl – Administrative Assistant III, Military Science (Staff Council Representative)
- Sarah Hutton – Finance and HR Professional, Anthropology (Equity Advocate)
- Kirsten Ortega – Associate Professor, English (LAS Faculty Representative)
- Kevin Tvrdy – Associate Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry (LAS Faculty Representative)
- Barbara Headle – Teaching Professor, History (LAS Faculty Representative)
- Steven Bistricky – Associate Director of Clinical Training & Associate Professor w/Tenure, Psychology (LAS Faculty Representative)
- K. Maja Krakowiak – Co-Chair & Professor of Communication (LAS Faculty Representative)
- Corrie West – Senior Director of Development, University Development (Staff Representative)
- Michaela Steen – IT Senior Professional, Visual & Performing Arts (Staff Representative)
- Laura McKernan – The Justice Center (Community Member)
- Amanda Espinel – Graduate Student, LAS (Graduate Student Representative)