McNeese State University began the semester with several new deans.
Dr. Charles Stewart is the new dean of the McNeese College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics from McNeese. Stewart earned a Doctor of Education degree from Lamar University.
Previously, Stewart was the dean of arts and sciences at SOWELA Technical Community College. He began teaching there in 2009.
Meghan Olinger is the new dean of student support and advocacy. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) and is working towards a Doctor of Education at the University of Southern Mississippi. Olinger was previously the Director of the ULM Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability.
“I am honored to serve as the dean of student support and advocacy. My career in higher education has always centered on serving students and enhancing their experiences on campus,” Olinger said. “I recognize the incredible opportunity I have to serve the students of McNeese and look forward to the exciting things to come.”
Additionally, three faculty members have stepped up to assume interim dean roles in their respective colleges.
Dr. Keagan LeJeune is the interim dean for the McNeese College of Liberal Arts. He earned an undergraduate degree and a Master of Fine Arts at McNeese and a doctorate at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in English with specialization in folklore. He began teaching in the McNeese Department of English and Foreign Languages in 1999 and has been the department head for the last six years.
“I enjoy meeting so many students and learning more about the university,” LeJeune said. “The best part, though, is helping my colleagues when I can, which is one reason I look forward to my time as interim dean.
Dr. Tom Shields is the interim dean for the McNeese College of Agricultural Sciences. Shields earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and both master’s degree and a doctorate from Mississippi State University. Shields joined McNeese in 2005 and left briefly in 2014 and rejoined in 2016.
Morgan Turpin is the interim dean for the McNeese College of Business. Turpin earned a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Business Administration from McNeese. Turpin began teaching at McNeese in 2019, and prior to that, she was with the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance.
“I’m honored to serve in the interim dean position for the McNeese College of Business,” she said. “My primary goal is obtaining more opportunities for our students. I believe this rests on two critical pieces—forging an even stronger connection with the business community and aligning our curriculum with the most up-to-date skills to best prepare our students for the job market.”
