»Wilkinson College Dean's Directory

Dr. Jennifer D. Keene is the Dean of Wilkinson College, where she provides visionary leadership and strategic oversight across all college operations, including budget management, resource allocation, curriculum development, fundraising, and faculty hiring and evaluation. Her leadership ensures that the college meets its academic and strategic objectives, and she is dedicated to advancing the college’s mission and fostering a culture of academic excellence. Dr. Keene received her Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University, after completing her B.A. and M.A. at George Washington University. She is full professor in the History Department, which she chaired for many years, and still regularly teaches for the department. Her research focuses on the American experience during World War I on which she has published numerous articles, essays, and books. In 2007, she received the Wang-Frankin Professorship award, the highest faculty award given at Chapman University. A leading historian on the American military experience during World War I, Dr. Keene has authored notable works such as Doughboys, the Great War, and the Remaking of America and World War I, The American Soldier Experience, and The United States and the First World War. She is also the lead author of the textbook Visions of America: A History of the United States. Dr. Keene is a much sought-after public speaker, historical consultant, and on-camera “talking head,” including the PBS American Experience 2017 documentary, “The Great War” and the History Channel’s 2024 “The Great War.” For guidance on college-wide matters, please contact Dean Keene.

Dr. Takaragawa is an Associate Professor in the Sociology Department and teaches Anthropology courses. In her role as Associate Dean, she oversees curriculum development, supporting faculty in proposing new courses and programs, particularly within interdisciplinary programs. Beyond the department, Dr. Takaragawa helps manage the Social Science areas within Wilkinson College, along with Graduate Programs, Centers and Institutes, interdisciplinary outreach, and Faculty/Student research. Her research and teaching focus on Asian American Studies and Visual Anthropology. She also coordinates the college’s annual “Engaging the World: Leading the Conversation…” series and facilitates faculty development workshops. Contact Dr. Takaragawa for assistance with curriculum proposals, interdisciplinary programs, graduate programs, and faculty development workshops.

Dr. Charissa Threat is an Associate Professor of History and received her Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. Her research focuses on the intersections of civil-military relations, race, gender, and conflict. As Associate Dean, Dr. Threat oversees the college’s peer and faculty advising programs and promotes faculty development through workshops and mentoring. She also serves as a point of contact for student concerns and assists the Dean in creating policies and administrative documents. In addition, Dr. Threat manages the college’s communication efforts, including blogs, newsletters, and social media highlighting faculty, student, and college achievements. Contact Dr. Threat for support with advising programs, faculty development, or communication initiatives.

Erin supports students and alumni in their employment searches, career planning, and networking efforts. She coordinates career development programs, organizes events, and integrates career services into academic programs through initiatives such as class visits and her course, “Managing Your Life.” Erin builds and nurtures relationships with industry partners to create opportunities that connect coursework to career paths and enhances the employability of students and alumni. Contact Erin to explore career opportunities, internships, and networking resources within Wilkinson College.

Allison assists full-time with the entire grant-seeking process, from identifying potential funding sources and developing proposals to preparing budgets and managing awarded grants. She plans and coordinates research development activities that promote awareness of internal and external grant opportunities, helping to cultivate a strong research culture within the college. Reach out to Allison for guidance and support with research grants and funding opportunities within Wilkinson College.

Talisa manages academic scheduling, faculty contracts, and provides leadership support to department administrative assistants and department chairs. She collaborates with department chairs on classroom allocations, enrollment management, and assists the Dean’s Office with the faculty annual review process. Talisa is your point of contact for questions regarding grade distributions, contracts, and faculty appointment letters. Contact Talisa for support with scheduling and academic operations.

Sarah oversees the college's financial planning and budgeting, ensuring compliance with university fiscal policies. She also manages the college's human resource functions, providing guidance on hiring, staff development, and HR-related matters. Additionally, Sarah supports the Dean in managing academic affairs, long-term initiatives, and strategic direction within Wilkinson College. Sarah is responsible for communicating and implementing new policies or procedures and ensures staff, department chairs, and program directors are informed and prepared for major policy changes. Contact Sarah for inquiries related to general operational policies, human resource matters, financial policies, budgets, and funding within Wilkinson College.

David provides administrative support for graduate programs within Wilkinson College, assisting faculty and students with questions about program requirements, events, recruitment, and matriculation. He collaborates closely with program directors and supervises graduate student staff. Contact David for information regarding Wilkinson's graduate programs and related services.

Maggie advises students on course selection, academic goals, and university policies, serving as a resource for both students and faculty. She manages the college’s peer advising program in collaboration with Associate Dean Threat. Maggie offers personalized guidance to help students stay on track for graduation. Contact Maggie for student advising, academic planning, and graduation requirements.

Makayla manages Wilkinson College’s daily financial operations, ensuring compliance with university policies. She oversees budgets, tracks financial performance, and is the point of contact for our internal grants and funding. She ensures the timely processing of purchase orders and expense reports and communicates key financial policies and deadlines to the college community. Additionally, Makayla supervises Wilkinson's department administrative assistants, provides support, and facilitates communication of university policies to ensure effective departmental operations. Contact Makayla for inquiries related to financial approvals, budget management, and department staff supervision.

Mary manages the logistics for large-scale college events and supports the Dean’s fundraising initiatives. While department assistants handle faculty-initiated event planning, Mary coordinates major events and assists with gift processing, donor reports, and solicitation documents, as authorized by the Dean. Contact Mary for college-wide event planning and development activities.

Laura manages Wilkinson College’s website and The Voice of Wilkinson blog. She creates engaging content that connects with various audiences, and oversees multiple projects related to web design, updates, and blog management. Reach out to Laura for blog ideas, student contributions, or content updates for the website. Website updates should be initiated through your department’s administrative assistant.

Rhyan Warmerdam supports Wilkinson's Academic Advisor Maggie Sandoval and conducts academic advising appointments. He can assist students with course selection, creating a four-year plan, and general policies and procedures. Rhyan is a Chapman graduate and was previously the Peer Advisor for the English department. Contact Rhyan for support with academic advising.