Dr. Kristine L. Blair Named New Dean of Liberal Arts

After a national search, Dr. Kristine L. Blair has been named dean of the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts at Duquesne University.

Blair, who currently serves as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and professor of English at Youngstown State University (YSU), will assume her new role on Monday, July 1. She succeeds Dr. James Swindal, who has served as dean since 2012.

“As a successful student-centered leader and administrator in the liberal arts, Dr. Blair brings invaluable experience to the McAnulty College and Graduate School,” said University President Ken Gormley. “She understands and will be a great steward of Duquesne’s commitment to excellence in a liberal arts education, as well as to Duquesne’s mission. We’re thrilled to have her joining our University.”

Prior to her role at Youngstown State University, Blair served as chair of the Bowling Green State University English Department from 2005-2014. She also chaired Bowling Green’s Faculty Senate from 2010-2011. Blair has taught at Texas A&M, Corpus Christi, Purdue University, Indiana Vocational Technical College, Sacramento City College and California State University at Sacramento.

“I am honored to become part of the Duquesne University community and to foster the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts’ commitment to faculty excellence, student success and community engagement through collaboration, dialogue and shared governance,” Blair said.

As dean of the College at YSU, Blair collaborated with the university’s Williamson College of Business Administration in the development of a Plus 3 program with the University of Akron School of Law. She also serves on YSU’s Internationalization Taskforce and has worked to increase international partnerships and exchanges, which has led to new collaborations with existing partner universities in economics, English and professional writing.

In addition, Blair has published on gender and technology, online learning and graduate student mentoring. She has served as editor of the peer-reviewed journal Computers and Composition since 2011. In addition, Blair’s new book, Technofeminist Storiographies: Women, Information Technology, and Cultural Representation, was released this year by publisher Lexington Books/Rowman and Littlefield.

Blair’s efforts have been recognized with honors including the Lisa Ede Mentoring Award, the Purdue University Distinguished Woman Scholar, and a Distinguished Dissertation Advisor Award and a Women of Distinction Award, both from Bowling Green State University.

“Duquesne University is a recognized leader locally, nationally and globally, and I look forward to working with President Gormley and Provost Dausey as well as with faculty, staff and students to promote the University’s Spiritan mission in teaching, scholarship and service,” Blair said.

“We are delighted to have Dr. Kris Blair join the company of scholars at Duquesne,” added Provost Dr. David Dausey. “I’d like to thank Dr. Gerry Magill, who chaired the search committee, for his skill and dedication to helping us find such a wonderful candidate. Dr. Blair is a true scholar who is passionate about the liberal arts and the transformational power of education. She comes to Duquesne with considerable business acumen, having served as a dean previously, and a pragmatic approach to managing people and programs. We look forward to welcoming Dr. Blair as the new dean of the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts this summer.”

Blair has a doctorate in English and rhetoric from Purdue University and both an M.A. in English and a B.A. in journalism from California State University at Sacramento.