Cynthia Warrick named interim dean of College of Arts and Sciences
Cynthia Warrick, a skilled interim leader with extensive experience in guiding higher education institutions through challenges and change, has been selected to oversee the College of Arts and Sciences as interim dean. Warrick will arrive on campus on Aug. 24.
Following a search, Warrick was appointed to the position by Jesse Perez Mendez, provost and executive vice president, who has been serving as acting dean since July 1.
“I am grateful to have Dr. Warrick’s experience and leadership during this time of transition and opportunity for the College of Arts and Sciences,” said Jesse Perez Mendez, provost and executive vice president. “As the broader higher education landscape is facing change, her expertise in navigating challenges will be beneficial in guiding the college until a search begins for the permanent dean.”
As interim dean, Warrick will serve as the chief academic and administrative officer of the college and will be responsible for fiscal oversight and direction of teaching, research and outreach. The interim dean must be able to articulate a vision and lead the development, implementation, growth and expansion of disciplinary and interdisciplinary opportunities across undergraduate and graduate programs. Warrick will also help the college navigate evolving enrollment patterns, workforce expectations and financial changes, positioning the college for long-term success while laying the groundwork for a successful national search for a permanent dean. Details of the search will be announced at a later date.
"I'm excited about joining the leadership of the prestigious College of Arts and Sciences, recognized for strong undergraduate research programs and supporting 68% of all undergraduate credit hours at K-State," Warrick said. "I am also deeply honored that the provost and search committees placed trust in my expertise to facilitate the college's vision during this interim period."
Warrick most recently served as an executive research fellow for the Tougaloo College Research and Development Foundation, where she facilitated the application for an $8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to build the new Biomedical Research and Training Center.
From 2017 to 2023, she served as president of Stillman College, where, during her tenure, she addressed fiscal challenges, established and enhanced community and stakeholder relationships, oversaw comprehensive fundraising and the strategic planning process, and saw an enhanced enrollment management system, among many other academic highlights.
She has served as interim dean of the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston, interim president at Grambling State University, and interim president at South Carolina State University. She has also served as an executive-in-residence at the University of Texas Permian Basin, among many other academic, administrative and research appointments.
Warrick has served on several federal advisory committees, provided program/grant review for several prestigious organizations including the National Institutes of Health, Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She’s also served on several journal editorial review boards and leadership and research panels.
Before entering a career in higher education, Warrick worked as a pharmacist. She received her Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from Howard University, a Master of Science in public policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a doctorate in environmental science and public policy from George Mason University.
— Submitted by Division of Communications and Marketing