Trine promotes faculty, staff

Trine University promoted faculty and staff members in multiple departments to new roles over the summer.

“Our university is blessed with outstanding faculty and staff who have demonstrated the competence and commitment to assume strategic new roles,” said Tony Kline, Ph.D., Trine University president. “Every move helps better position Trine University to provide a premier private education and student experience.”

Trine Innovation One

Two Trine Innovation One staff members are now in new roles.

Jeremy Goossens was named director of esports and industry innovation. The new position expands his former role as director of esports to include support for the Ketner School of Business, Jannen School of Arts and Sciences, Rinker-Ross School of Health Sciences and Franks School of Education through Trine Innovation One.

As part of his new role, Goossens will work to cultivate industry-sponsored projects, applied learning opportunities, workforce development initiatives and other real-world experiences across the schools. He also will lead collaborative programming with external organizations, with an emphasis on accessibility, workforce readiness, experiential learning and community impact.

The university also promoted Timerson Downing, formerly project manager for Trine Innovation One, to manager of makerspace and industry innovation. In his new role, Downing will serve as the primary Trine Innovation One representative supporting the Allen School of Engineering and Computing, connecting faculty and students with industry partners and helping advance experiential learning, workforce development, applied innovation, entrepreneurship and student success.

He also will represent Trine Innovation One and the university in industry partnerships. He will continue to oversee the Makerspace Innovation Learning Lab in the university’s Steel Dynamics Inc. Center for Engineering and Computing.

Administration

Phil Downs, Ph.D., has been promoted to executive director of strategic initiatives. He previously served as director of education graduate programs and accreditation in the Franks School of Education.

Reporting to the president, Dr. Downs will support key university-wide strategic functions, including innovation, growth, operational excellence and stakeholder engagement. He also will contribute to the management of AI enhancements campus-wide while using data to inform key initiatives and operations.

Kyle Aldrich has been promoted from director of financial aid to assistant vice president of financial aid. In that role, he will serve as a key leader within enrollment management and will collaborate across the university to align financial aid strategy with institutional priorities.

He will provide strategic direction for all financial aid programs, aligning aid leveraging and discounting strategies with enrollment and net tuition revenue goals. He also will partner with the vice president for enrollment management to develop, implement and assess financial aid strategies that support recruitment, yield and retention.

Steve Faramelli, a creative media specialist at Trine for 10 years, has been promoted to assistant director of creative services. Faramelli will take on the additional responsibility of video board operation and student workforce leadership to deliver high-quality visual experiences across print, digital and in-venue videoboard productions.

Denise Geary has been promoted to director of stewardship and donor relations after serving as director of advancement services. In her new role, Geary will be responsible for coordinating all donor recognition and naming opportunities, donor scholarship recognition and all other donor acknowledgement activities.

Student Affairs

Bill Milnes, who served as executive director of housing and residential life, has been named executive director of campus life. He will now oversee the Housing and Residential Life, Student Engagement and Student Leadership and Service departments. He also will support the planning and implementation of Student Orientation and Registration (SOAR) and student check-in.

Justin Weber, executive director of student success, has added responsibility for Student Success support at Trine’s Brooks College of Health Professions to his duties and will oversee team members at that location.

Academics and faculty

Samantha Fulton, who previously served as director of dual enrollment, has been promoted to assistant dean for academics. In her new role, she will support faculty, department chairs and deans while helping lead academic projects and institutional initiatives that advance the goals of the Office of Academic Affairs.

Kelly Eckel, Ed.D., assistant professor in the Franks School of Education, has been appointed to the new role of Education Department chair. In that role, she will provide leadership for the Franks School of Education while supporting faculty, curriculum development and continued program growth.

Amy Tracy, assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice, has been named department chair. With a long-standing passion for educating future criminal justice professionals, she will now lead the department while continuing to support student learning, faculty collaboration and program development.

Jamesdean Visley, OTD, associate professor in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, has been named program director. In his new role, he will provide leadership for the program, support faculty and students and help ensure the continued growth and success of the university's occupational therapy offerings.

Jodi Sandvik, DSc, DPT, associate professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, has been named program director. She will provide leadership for the program while supporting faculty, students and ongoing efforts to deliver an exceptional educational experience.