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The Rotunda
Wednesday, July 30, 2025

New Graduate Studies Dean Believes in Outreach

The new dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies is a familiar face around campus—and in her department. Dr. Jeannine Perry, newly appointed dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS), has been at Longwood since 2003.   

Perry was previously an assistant dean for the CGPS until Aug. 25, when she took over the job from Dr. Anthony Koyzis, who held the position since Sept. 10, 2008. Koyzis is now at West Liberty University in West Virginia where he currently serves as provost.

An associate professor of education, Perry, became program coordinator for the graduate-level Literacy and Culture program through the College of Education and Human Services her second year at Longwood. "I've been involved with graduate studies all along," said Perry. "That's been my whole career here."

Perry earned her undergraduate degree at Hiram College in Ohio. She received a B.A., summa cum laude, in English with a secondary teaching endorsement. She obtained her master's degree from Kent State University in English and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction for reading and language arts.  

Perry said the CGPS is currently establishing their purposes to parallel with the university's academic strategic plan, currently in development. "One of our biggest priorities is to define ourselves and create a strategic plan," Perry said. "In doing so, we really want to raise the profile of graduate and professional studies internally and externally."

In the past, the college has been viewed as sort of a subsidiary of Longwood. Perry said they want to merge with the university and support Longwood's mission, acting together rather than off by themselves. "We are very much a place of innovation that serves non-traditional and adult students," she said. "Most of them are off campus, but we don't limit it entirely to off campus."

Perry said the typical applicant to the program is older than the average undergraduate student and has many non-traditional needs. She said the goal is to serve these students because of their uniqueness. Perry said about 700 students are currently enrolled through the college on the graduate level, and the goal is to exceed one thousand in the future.

Off-site undergraduate programs are also offered through the college, benefiting some 50 students annually. Elementary Education programs are offered in three different sites and a Bachelor of General Studies is offered at one site. Those sites include Martinsville, Emporia, Stafford County and Fort Lee.

The other aspect the college has is hosting the training and overseeing of online and hybrid courses. "We are working on establishing a stronger unit in what we call distributed education," Perry added.

These courses include any that require electronic or technical instruction. "Hybrid and online is crucial. We can't ignore it," Perry said. The program's limitation does not stop at faculty; it is also inclusive of students. "Part of this is realizing we need student preparedness as well as faculty preparedness."

The college also supports faculty research here on campus, most apparent through the Blackwell Talks presentations held each Monday at noon in the Prince Edward Room of Blackwell Hall. "That's been extremely successful," said Perry. "It's that kind of faculty interaction that we want. It helps you understand other people and how they see the world really differently."

Highlighting research is more than just a Monday affair, Perry was quick to point out. "When you have graduate faculty on a campus, there's always the worry there will be two different types of faculty. That's not it at all. You're just working with different groups of students."

Research, undergraduate and graduate-level are equally important, said Perry. "What's becoming more important is getting graduate students to share the research they're doing with undergrads. The idea is to support innovative ideas that look different than what we're already offering."

During her 14 years of teaching in public schools, Perry said one of the things she valued most was outreach. She plans to continue that desire through her position as dean. "Through the graduate work I've done … we have been to communities that don't have access to college. And that has fueled my desire to do this outreach through graduate and professional studies."

Perry said, "The whole point is to bring people together and enjoy learning, and that's what Longwood is all about."