Academic Affairs Leadership Team Meetings

Dr. Michelle DenBeste serves as the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs at Central Washington University. Dr. DenBeste was formerly the Dean of the College of Social Sciences at California State University, Fresno. Prior to this appointment, she also served as the Chair of the History Department and as the Principal Investigator on several national grants. A Pacific Northwest native, she graduated with a B.A. in Russian and East European Studies from the University of Washington before completing an M.A. and Ph.D. in history at Southern Illinois University. Dr. DenBeste's published research focuses on nineteenth century Russian women doctors and her research in progress explores the history of a reclusive Russian religious group, the Molokans, in California's Central Valley. Dr. DenBeste is an advocate for study abroad and has taught in London, Prague, and Russia. Dr. DenBeste has sought to increase opportunities for study abroad, for funded internships, and for undergraduate research opportunities. She has been honored for her work with teachers by the San Joaquin Valley Council of Social Sciences and enjoys speaking with a variety of community groups. Dr. DenBeste is an avid cyclist who also enjoys spending time with her family and two spoiled dachshunds.

Gail Mackin joined Central Washington University as the Associate Provost for Undergraduate and Faculty Affairs in 2017. Gail became the Associate Vice Provost in January 2021. Gail previously served as Senior Associate Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern Kentucky University (NKU). While at NKU, she also held the position of interim department chair of the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and director of Project SOAR, a National Science Foundation funded scholarship program for STEM majors with financial need.

Gail earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in mathematics from Virginia Tech and has a B.S. in mathematics and physics from Keene State College in New Hampshire. As an applied mathematician, her research spans various disciplines including continuum mechanics, ecology and geology. A dedicated teacher, research mentor and advisor, Gail has been recognized by the Mathematical Association of America Kentucky Section with the Distinguished College or University Mathematics Teacher of the Year.

Mark Meister, Ph.D. is a Professor of Communication and Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Humanities at Central Washington University. For 23 years, he rose through the academic ranks earning the rank of Professor in the Department of Communication at North Dakota State University where he served as Chair and taught courses on rhetorical theory, communication ethics, rhetorical criticism, and argumentation. His major area of scholarly interest is in environmental rhetoric and communication ethics. He is the author of Enviropop: Studies in Environmental Rhetoric and Popular Culture published by Praeger Press and the co-author of Communication Ethics, Media, and Popular Culture published by Peter Lang Publishing Company. He has published 45 peer-reviewed articles in such venues as the Quarterly Journal of Speech, Environmental History, Environmental Communication Yearbook, Communication Studies, Communication Research, Mass Communication and Society, Communication Quarterly, Argumentation and Advocacy, Communication Review, Communication and Our Environment, and The Journal of Development Communication.

Dr. Jeffrey Stinson is the Dean of the Central Washington University College of Business. Prior to serving as Dean, Dr. Stinson served as Associate Dean of the College of Business for 3 ½ years, and Chair of the Management Department for 3 years. He has been a member of the Marketing faculty at CWU since 2008.

Dr. Stinson received his Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Oregon, and served on the faculty at North Dakota State University for three years prior to joining CWU. His research centers on the influence of intercollegiate athletics programs on the fundraising for both athletic and academic programs at colleges and universities. He teaches Sport Business and Marketing courses at CWU.

Dr. Tim Englund received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University and his B.S. from Grand Valley State University. He has been a member of the mathematics faculty since 1998. His current primary research interests include interdisciplinary collaborations with colleagues in Nutrition & Health Sciences examining elementary school lunches. Previous research has focused on the representation theory of Chevalley groups. Prior to joining the Dean's office, he served as the chair of the Mathematics Department and as the Faculty Coordinator for the Ronald E. McNair Program at CWU.

Sydney Thompson joined CWU Libraries in 2020 as Associate Dean. Prior to her tenure at CWU, she held positions at North Carolina State University Libraries, most recently as the head of the access services department, and at New York University Libraries in delivery services roles. She earned her Master of Library Sciences from Queens College, and holds a master of arts in sociology from the New School University, a bachelor of arts in sociology from the University of Alaska-Anchorage, and an applied arts and sciences degree in aviation from Big Bend Community College.

Ediz Kaykayoglu has received a B.S. degree in Computer Engineering from University of Bahcesehir in Istanbul, Turkey, a M.T. degree in Technology and Ph.D. in Education Psychology from Kent State University. His research areas are Learning Management Systems and Cultural Intelligence in the field of Instructional Technology Education. His prior service includes Executive Director, Office of International Studies & Programs and Interim Associate Provost, Extended Learning and Outreach. Ediz currently serves as the Dean of Extended and Global Education at Central Washington University.

Joy Fuqua serves as Executive Director of Interactive Instruction and Innovative Delivery at Central Washington University. Joy oversees Multimodal Learning which includes online, and distance learning and the multimodal educational classrooms located in Samuelson Hall. Her previous appointments were as director of Online Learning at the University of North Carolina Pembroke and director of Virtual College Baccalaureate Center, interim dean of the Virtual College and faculty at Fort Hays State University. Joy has worked on many university initiatives including corporate partnerships, student retention, accreditation and “Red Balloon Projects” dedicated to the creation of inclusive activities. Joy has authored over 25 online courses and instructed special education, diversity, and exceptionality, and supervised over 500 students in education field work. She served as a member of the Tilford committee which provides for faculty, staff, and administrators of Kansas higher education institutions to approach diversity in higher education by examining the challenges and opportunities. Joy also served as the Kansas Council for Exceptional Children vice president elect and president for 7 years.

Joy received her Bachelor of Science in Curriculum and Instruction and Master of Science in Special Education (Gifted and Learning Disabilities) from Fort Hays State University in Kansas.

Anne Cubilié moved to CWU in August of 2013 following 10 years working for the United Nations. Dr. Cubilié was Director of the CWU William O. Douglas Honors College (DHC) for two years, moving to the position of Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Extended Learning in 2015. After two years as Associate Provost, Dr. Cubilié returned to her position at the DHC to work more closely with students and faculty on the shared educational mission of the university. At the United Nations, Dr. Cubilié worked in humanitarian response and development policy both at headquarters and in the field. She joined the United Nations from Georgetown University, where she was an assistant professor. Throughout her time at the United Nations, Dr. Cubilié maintained close ties to the academy and a consistent interest in bridging the gap between academic research and the political and policy considerations of international aid.

Dr. Cubilié has lived and worked in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Egypt. Her book, Women Witness Terror: Testimony and the Cultural Politics of Human Rights, reads testimony by women survivors of war and human rights abuse through critical frameworks of ethics, trauma and witnessing. She received her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and her BA from the University of Oregon, graduating from the Robert D. Clark Honors College.