CWU selects two new deans following national searches

Central Washington University has hired two new deans to lead the College of Arts and Humanities (CAH) and College of the Sciences (COTS), according to an announcement from the Provost’s Office.

After conducting two nationwide searches over the past year, CWU has selected Dr. Christopher Redfearn to lead CAH and Dr. Julie Baldwin to lead COTS. Redfearn will officially join the CWU faculty on July 1, and Baldwin will start on July 16.

CWU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Patrick Pease thanked the committee members for completing two successful searches, and lauded the quality of both candidate pools.

“Dr. Redfearn and Dr. Baldwin emerged from two highly competitive searches, and we are looking forward to them joining the Wildcat family this summer,” Pease said. “Both colleges already have a strong foundation, and we expect these two proven leaders to help elevate our support of students, faculty, and staff to an even higher level.”

Baldwin will take over for Michael Harrod, a CWU sociology professor who has served as Interim Dean of COTS since April 2024. Redfearn will succeed Interim Dean of CAH Rachel Kirk, a professor of Art + Design who has also served in her current role since last summer.

Baldwin holds a PhD in Geology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and earned her undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill.

She currently serves as Interim Dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences at the University of Montana, where she leads 20 departments that serve 3,000 students in bachelor’s through doctoral programs.

Under Baldwin’s leadership, the college has improved first-year retention with a centralized Advising Center, broadened access for adult learners through a Multidisciplinary Studies degree, secured grants supporting inclusive teaching and Indigenous STEM success, and launched a Career Planning Center tailored to liberal arts majors.

She explained that she was drawn to CWU’s strong sense of purpose in providing a transformative educational experience, along with its deep commitment to student success.

“I’m inspired by CWU’s emphasis on hands-on research, experiential learning, and community engagement—experiences that are essential to preparing students for the careers and challenges of the future,” Baldwin said. “I also look forward to leading a college that unites the natural and social sciences, creating space for interdisciplinary research, innovation, and real-world impact for our faculty and students.”

Redfearn holds a Doctor of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado School of Music, a Master of Music from Michigan State University, and a Bachelor of Music from Brigham Young University.

He comes to CWU from the University of Jamestown (North Dakota), where he serves as the Vice President for Academic Affairs. His current role focuses on improving student support structures to enhance retention and graduation rates. Redfearn has also served as the Associate Provost and Dean of the Undergraduate College at UJ, and prior to that, he was a department chair and choral director for the Department of Music at Valley City State University in North Dakota.

He said he is most looking forward to working with the talented faculty and staff in CAH to raise the visibility and impact of CWU’s programs, both on campus and in the community.

“The arts and humanities help us understand the human experience, and studying them not only enriches students’ lives but also builds essential skills like critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and problem solving,” Redfearn said. “There is simply no better place to study the arts and humanities than at Central Washington University, and I can’t wait to start sharing that story.”