CIA selects Amanda Fronek as new Dean of Students

Amanda Fronek—an experienced student affairs leader and administrator dedicated to the mission of access and opportunity in education spaces—has been named Dean of Students at the Cleveland Institute of Art.

Fronek most recently served as assistant dean of student success at Oberlin College and Conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio, a role in which she provided supervision, support, leadership and guidance to student success coaches; facilitated cross-campus collaborations to advance student success, engagement and retention metrics; and lead the development, implementation and assessment of a high-functioning and scalable success coaching model.

Prior to that, she held student affairs-focused positions at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland; Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis; and Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Her first role in higher education was as a graduate assistant for Student Life + Housing at CIA, which provided her an "overwhelmingly positive introduction to student affairs work."

"I am extremely excited about coming back to CIA and joining the team in this new capacity because my experience as a graduate assistant 15 years ago set the tone for how I have professionally interacted with students and the college environment as a whole for my entire career," Fronek says. "CIA provides the perfect combination of education, creativity and student development, and that is an energizing prospect for any higher education practitioner."

As Dean of Students, Fronek will develop, implement and assess a broad range of programs that promote student well-being and success. She will also lead Student Affairs staff in collaborating with the CIA community, identifying needs and opportunities to create and enhance programs, services and policies with the goal of promoting a welcoming, respectful and inclusive community.

"When it comes to working with students, I am most looking forward to getting to know them individually, understanding their interests and goals, and aiming the work of Student Affairs toward helping them pursue their passions," Fronek says. "Supporting students and watching them thrive within educational environments that my team and I contribute to is a powerful motivator and reminder of why I started a career in higher education."

Fronek begins her new role at CIA on Monday, July 29 following a comprehensive and inclusive national search.

"We are thrilled to welcome Amanda (back!) to CIA," said Greg Watts, Vice President of Academic Affairs + Dean of Faculty. "Her recognition of the particular needs of CIA students will help her support them outside of their classrooms and studios, which is critically important to providing a holistic student experience. Amanda is an ideal leader for CIA's Student Affairs team."

Fronek is a first-generation college student who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio; a Master of Education degree in Higher Education Administration from Kent State University; a graduate certificate in Institutional Research from Kent State; and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from Kent State.

CONTACT
Michael C. Butz
Cleveland Institute of Art
Director of College Communications + External Relations
216.421.7404 / mcbutz@cia.edu