Kennesaw State University President Pamela Whitten and Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Kathy Schwaig have named Shawn Long as dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and Tim Blumentritt dean of the College of Professional Education, effective July 15 and April 8, respectively.
Shawn Long
Shawn Long currently serves as senior associate dean for academic budget and personnel for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he also served as associate dean of academic affairs and as chair of the Department of Communication Studies. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of the College, he has played an integral role in facility improvements.
“We are delighted to have someone with Dr. Long’s pedigree and experience join us in helping make Kennesaw State and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences a premier destination for students,” Whitten said. “He is a proven leader who truly cares for the success of his students and faculty, and I have no doubt that he will serve the college and our university well.”
An accomplished author, Long has penned numerous peer-reviewed articles and has published three books: Communication, Relationships, and Practices in Virtual Work; Virtual Work and Human Interaction Research; and Contexts of the Dark Side of Communication. His research interests include organizational communication, virtual work, virtual teams, and health communication. In his academic career, he has received more than $1.3 million in project funding as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator.
“Dr. Long brings with him not only an impressive portfolio of academic and professional experiences, but also an intense dedication to advancing the humanities and social sciences in the lives of our students and in the broader community,” Schwaig said.
Long received his doctorate in communication from the University of Kentucky and his master’s degree in public administration and bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant administration from Tennessee State University.
“I very much look forward to joining the many talented faculty and students in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences,” Long said. “Kennesaw State is an institution on the rise, and I am committed to championing its mission of building the leaders of tomorrow through an excellent educational experience.”
Tim Blumentritt
Blumentritt has been interim dean of the College since April 2018. Previously, he served as the director of strategic planning for the university, responsible for moving KSU through the creation of a strategic plan. Blumentritt joined Kennesaw State in 2005 as an assistant professor in management.
“Dr. Blumentritt has been a tremendous contributor to Kennesaw State University,” said Whitten. “His extensive leadership and overall commitment to drive new programs and initiatives both at KSU and within the College will be invaluable in strengthening the educational needs of the region’s larger community.”
During the past 14 years at Kennesaw State, Blumentritt has held a number of leadership roles at the university, including leading online programs and directing its Master of Business Administration and President’s Emerging Global Scholars programs.
“Dr. Blumentritt’s proven track record as an innovator and a leader makes him an ideal choice to lead our College of Professional Education,” said Schwaig. “His understanding of the professional education marketplace will help KSU extend its reach as we provide new learning opportunities to a wider range of students.”
With research interests in strategic management of family businesses, Blumentritt has served on editorial review boards for numerous professional journals. He also is active in the community and currently serves on the board at the Center for Family Resources as treasurer.
“I am thrilled to be part of a great team that is committed to providing an educated workforce that meets the needs of the state and region,” said Blumentritt. “Our innovative education programs have a greater ability to serve the people of Georgia in developing the skills they need for fast-growing jobs in healthcare and technology, and it is truly exciting to be part of that.”
Blumentritt earned his doctorate in international business from the University of South Carolina, an MBA from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the CFA Institute.
