Hokien Named Associate Dean of KU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown University has named Dr. Deborah Hokien as associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Hokien brings more than 16 years of progressive administrative leadership in higher education to KU and will begin her new role Monday, Aug. 12.
Hokien’s career includes more than 25 years as a chemistry professor at Marywood University. She served as department chair for six years and in 2021, began a two-year stint as the associate dean for the College of Health and Human Services. Hokien comes to KU from Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth Beach, Fla., where she served as the associate dean for the Division of Mathematics and Science since 2023.
"I am excited to be moving back to Pennsylvania and joining the Kutztown University family as associate dean,” Hokien said. “In my new role, I plan to work with faculty to explore new programs, develop innovative assessment strategies to improve enrollment and retention, and establish a dynamic working relationship with colleagues that supports growth, inclusivity and empowerment."
During her two years as associate dean at Marywood, Hokien was elected as chairperson to the university online curriculum committee, was appointed as the college assessment coordinator and oversaw analysis of departmental and program strategic and unit assessment plans. She has experience with review of college course syllabi and oversight of the college’s faculty development budget. Hokien is a member of the Assessment Network of New York (ANNY) and the Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education (AALHE). As lead author, she and her collaborators won a First Place Certificate Award in the category of Outstanding Innovative Approach for a poster titled, “The Effectiveness of a New Chair Orientation as Reported by Confidence Levels – A Case Study.”
Hokien spent six years (2012-18) as the director for the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies and the Ph.D. program in administration and leadership at Marywood. She redesigned the doctoral program to a fully online modality, created an on-campus residency program for incoming students, taught quantitative research methods and oversaw the recruitment, advisement, retention and mentorship of approximately 70 doctoral students each year.
As a chemistry instructor, including in the role of professor from 2012-23, Hokien has multiple publications spanning more than 30 years, including some in progress.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Hokien to campus to serve as associate dean,” said Dr. Laurie McMillan, dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “Her STEM background, experience with graduate studies, assessment expertise and extensive leadership will serve our faculty, staff and students well. Dr. Hokien’s passion for teaching, learning and research inspires all who work with her.”
Hokien earned her Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Lehigh University in 1995, and her Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of Scranton in 1989.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has 13 academic departments that offer dynamic programs where students pursue their passions and engage in learning experiences that propel them into meaningful careers. In addition to coursework that helps students develop key foundational skills and in-depth disciplinary knowledge, many students take advantage of internships, research opportunities and study abroad. The strength of all the programs of the college lies in a dedicated faculty who have a passion for teaching and mentoring that touches students' minds as well as their lives.
Departments within the college include anthropology and sociology, biological sciences, computer science and information technology, criminal justice, English, geography, history, mathematics, modern language studies, philosophy and government, physical sciences, psychology and social work.