(Dr. Mark Bradley Shields, Dr. Susan Cosby Ronnenberg & Dr. Amanda St. John)
Southeastern announces academic affairs, nursing school position appointments
By UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
DURANT, Okla. – Three individuals – two in academic affairs and a third in nursing – have recently been appointed to key positions at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Joining Southeastern are Dr. Mark Bradley Shields, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Susan Cosby Ronnenberg, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs – Undergraduate Studies, and Dr. Amanda St. John, Director of Nursing and Allied Health.
“We are delighted to welcome these individuals to campus,’’ said Dr. Teresa Golden, Vice President for Academic Affairs. “They are all highly-qualified professionals who possess a wealth of experience and who also bring unique expertise to their respective areas.’’
Dr. Shields comes to Southeastern after having served as the Director of Operations/Student Affairs Administration at the Broken Arrow campus of Northeastern State University. He will work closely with Dr. Golden in overseeing academic advising, career management, and tribal relations. Shields earned a doctorate in Higher Education at the University of Arkansas, a master’s degree in Administrative Leadership and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma, and a Bachelor of Science in history from the University of Tulsa.
Dr. Ronnenberg will begin her service at Southeastern Oklahoma State University at the end of June. She previously served as the Dean of Undergraduate College at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota with specific service as Dean for the School of the Arts and Humanities and Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs, with direct reports from the Associate Dean for General Education, the Director of International Programs, and Director for Allied Health Programs, and the Honors Program Director.
At Southeastern, she will work with Dr. Golden as her designee to provide leadership and oversight in undergraduate education, support of department chairs, and serve as an advocate for undergraduate education in partnership with other administrators and faculty. Ronnenberg earned a Ph.D. in 16th & 17th Century British Literature from the University of Oklahoma, a Master of Arts in English Literature from Southwest Missouri State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Hendrix College.
In addition to serving as Director of Nursing and Allied Health, Dr. St. John will be the Southeastern coordinator and point of contact for the Murray State Nursing Program as it begins on the Durant campus in the spring of 2023.
St. John has 15 years of clinical experience, and more than a decade of education experience.
With her experience in management and nursing, she has built her career on using data, building relationships, and strategic planning. Her experience includes teaching at baccalaureate and doctoral levels, serving as an administrator, and teaching both face-to-face and online courses. St. John earned her Master’s in Healthcare Systems management at Loyola University (New Orleans) and her Doctorate in Nursing Administration at Samford University (Alabama), and also holds an additional teaching certificate.
