»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. 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 aids students and alumni with employment searches, career strategies, and networking. She organizes career development programs and events, integrates these services into academic programs through class visits and her “Managing Your Life” course, and fosters relationships with industry partners. Contact Erin to connect coursework to career opportunities and enhance the employability of our students and alumni. 

Allison assists with all aspects of the grant-seeking process, from research into potential grant opportunities and proposal development to budget preparation and post-award management. She plans and coordinates research development activities to expand our understanding of internal and external grant opportunities and foster a thriving research culture. Reach out to Allison for grant-related support.

Danielle is a resource for faculty and students in WCAHSS graduate programs, answering questions about program requirements, events, recruitment, or matriculation. She works closely with program directors and supervises graduate student staff. Contact Danielle for any questions about graduate programs. 

Current Students: despiritu@chapman.edu
Prospective Students: wilkinsonadmit@chapman.edu

Sarah provides overall oversight for college finances and budgets, ensuring fiscal policy compliance and effective financial planning. She supports the Dean with managing short and long-term priorities, initiatives, and activities related to current academic affairs, financial planning, strategic direction, marketing initiatives, and operational imperatives in WCAHSS. She communicates and explains new directives, policies, or procedures; for major policy changes, she meets with staff, Department Chairs, and Program Directors to train, explain changes, and answer questions. Contact Sarah for matters related to financial policies, departmental and program funding, faculty start-up funds, and balances. 

David oversees WCAHSS scheduling and contract processes and provides leadership support in these areas for department administrative assistants and department chairs. He works closely with department chairs regarding classroom allocations and enrollment. David assists the dean and associate deans in the faculty annual review process and is your point of contact for copies of grade distributions, contracts, and appointment letters. 

Maggie advises students and is a resource for faculty with questions about advising or graduation requirements. She works with Associate Dean Threat to manage the college’s peer advising program. Students schedule meetings with Maggie for guidance on course selection, academic goals, and university policies. Contact Maggie for questions concerning student advising needs and graduation requirements. 

Makayla oversees the department’s administrative assistants and manages day-to-day financial approvals. She leads onboarding and training for department staff, coordinates department coverage to ensure consistent support, and provides guidance on purchase orders, Concur expenses, and PCard reconciliations. She also supports the Director of Operations in maintaining compliance with fiscal policies. Please contact Makayla with questions regarding department staffing, financial approvals, or internal funds support. 

Mary organizes large-scale college events and supports the dean’s fundraising initiatives. Department assistants are the starting point for faculty-initiated event planning.  If authorized by the dean, Mary coordinates with department assistants on event logistics for major events. She also handles gift processing, donor reports, and solicitation documents. 

Laura manages The Voice of Wilkinson blog and the college website, including content for departments and programs. She develops tailored content for various audiences and manages multiple projects. Reach out to Laura for blog ideas or student blog contributions. Website updates should start with your department or Program Administrative Assistant.