37 saint francis magazine | fall 2023 Saint Francis names interim vice presidents, dean Saint Francis announced three positions will be filled on an interim basis for the 2023-24 academic year: David Rhodes as interim vice president for enrollment management, Dr. Tracy Stewart as interim vice president for academic affairs and Dr. Lewis Pearson as interim dean of the College of Arts, Sciences and Business. Rhodes’ career in higher education and enrollment management spans nearly 40 years and includes extensive work in admissions, financial aid, international student services and retention. Dr. Stewart has served in a variety of capacities in higher education, including vice president, provost, department chair and assistant and associate professor. Dr. Pearson began his Saint Francis journey as an assistant professor of philosophy in 2010. By 2023, his title and job duties had evolved to professor of philosophy and philosophy course coordinator. Ben Adams joins Saint Francis as CIO Ben Adams joined the University of Saint Francis as chief information officer (CIO). He is responsible for information technology strategy, budgeting and leadership across the university. Ben began May 15 through the university’s contract with Ellucian. He graduated from Fordham University and has an MSE in Technology Management from the University of Pennsylvania. Adams brings his experience as CIO at The College of St. Scholastica, CTO at The Davidson Academy of Nevada and Senior Director Education IT at NYU Langone School of Medicine to his role at USF. In addition to his education and IT leadership experience, he brings teaching experience and a background in analytics. Clark, Peterson win Saint Francis teaching awards Dr. Wendy Clark and Danielle Peterson were honored with 2023 campus awards. Dr. Clark, professor in the nursing program, received the Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award, given annually to a full-time faculty member. Peterson, assistant professor in the social work program, received the LeePoxy Award for Teaching Excellence. The LeePoxy Award recognizes outstanding performance in the classroom and other direct teaching arenas, such as clinical placements, art studios, labs, field studies and distance learning. C A M P U S N E W S Saint Francis celebrates new MLK monument USF enthusiastically hosted the 60th Anniversary Celebration commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech in Fort Wayne in 1963. The celebration took place in conjunction with the Pillars of Hope and Justice Monument Dedication, held on June 5 at the corner of Main and Ewing streets. Martin Luther King, III, spoke at the event and at the celebration inside the Robert Goldstine Performing Arts Center. He delivered a speech from the same spot as his father spoke exactly 60 years earlier. 37 saint francis magazine | fall 2023 From the left: David Rhodes, Dr. Tracy Stewart, Dr. Lewis Pearson, Ben Adams, Dr. Wendy Clark and Danielle Peterson
