Dr. Michelle DenBeste serves as the Provost/Vice/President for Academic and Student Life 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 PhD and MS in mathematics from Virginia Tech and has a BS 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.

Ediz Kaykayoglu previously served as faculty and the director of Education Abroad at Kent State University.  He has worked in higher education since 2003 and has expertise in computer technology, educational technology, and international education.

Ediz became director of Education Abroad in 2015 and was the assistant director of the program for two years prior. He was Education Abroad manager from 2010 to 2013 and special assistant to the executive director of the Office of Global Education at Kent State from 2009-2010. He also taught information technology courses at Kent State from 2003-2006. 

Ediz has a BS in computer engineering from Bahcesehir University in Istanbul, Turkey, and a master’s degree in computer technology from Kent State University. He is currently pursuing his PhD in instructional technology education at Kent State, focusing his research on evaluating online intervention methods to enhance cultural intelligence.

Jill Hernandez is currently the Dean for the College of Arts and Humanities at Central Washington University. Prior to starting at CWU, Hernadez was the associate dean of University College and a professor of philosophy at University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). At UTSA, Hernandez served in a variety of other administrative posts, including associate dean of Undergraduate Studies. She also led numerous student success initiatives to increase student graduation rates, improve the student experience, strengthen student services, develop faculty and student mentorship, and grow graduate programs there.

Hernandez is also widely published on topics including ethics, early modern philosophy, and existentialism.  She has won national and international recognition for her research and teaching, including a faculty award from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the International Journal of Philosophical Studies Robert B. Papazian International Prize in Ethics.

Hernandez received her bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Taylor University, in Upland, Indiana; her Master of Arts in philosophy from Texas A&M University, College Station,

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.

Kevin Archer is the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.  He joined the faculty at CWU in September 2012 as Chair of the Department of Geography after serving for many years in the same capacity at the University of South Florida.  At the latter institution he chaired a department with 21 faculty which offered a Ph.D., three Masters, and two Bachelor’s degrees as well as three graduate and undergraduate certificates in Geography, Environmental Science and Policy, and Urban and Regional Planning.  He received his Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University and Masters degree from McGill University.  Dr. Archer has published widely on globalizing cities and polities, the social construction of the environment, and urban and regional development and policy.

Rebecca Lubas joins CWU as the Dean of Libraries. Previously she served as associate dean of the library at The Claremont Colleges in California, since 2014 and prior to that was director of discovery, acquisitions, and consortial services and associate professor at the University of New Mexico and head of cataloging and metadata services at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Lubas holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame, an MLIS from Louisiana State University, and an MA in English from Ball State University. She is editor of Practical Strategies for Cataloging Departments, co-editor of Practical Strategies for Academic Library Managers, and co-author of The Metadata Manuel and The Complete Guide to Acquisitions Management. She was awarded a Fulbright Specialist grant to conduct training at the University Library in Kosovo in 2016.

Reporting to the Provost, Gregg Heinselman serves at the Dean of Student Success, working to provide leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the Office of the Dean of Student Success.  Student Success provides students educationally-purposeful programs, events, services and activities that promote academic, personal, and professional growth within and beyond the classroom.

The Dean of Student Success provides direct leadership to the Associate Dean for Student Living, the Associate Dean for Health and Wellness, the Associate Dean for Student Development and Achievement, the Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities, and the Director of Academic Success Initiatives.  Indirect support is provided to a comprehensive array of services including; Disability Services, Orientation and Transition Programs, Student Involvement, Housing and Residence Life, Wellness Center, Recreation, Student Counseling Services, Student Medical Services, Career Services, Gear Up, College Assistant Migrant Program, Learning Commons, Professional Advising, Exploratory Advising, Academic Achievement, and the Veterans Center.

The Dean of Student Success serves as a member of the Provost’s Council, Dean’s Council, President’s Budget Advisory Committee, Diversity and Inclusivity Committee, Ethics Advisory Committee, Retention Team, Strategic Enrollment Management Planning Team, and the Title IX Committee. The position serves as a liaison to shared governance and provides direct support to Associated Students of Central Washington University.

Anne Cubilié moved to CWU in August of 2013 following 10 years working for the United Nations. Dr. Cubilie 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. Cubilie 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. Cubilie 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. Cubilie 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.

As the Faculty Relations Coordinator, Charlene provides professional contract support for and collaboration with the Provost, Academic Deans, appointing authorities, and others involved in faculty employment and evaluation.  Charlene serves as a labor negotiator responsible for developing and implementing CWU faculty labor relations and collective bargaining policies and strategies.  She is responsible for the oversight of and compliance with the faculty collective bargaining agreement.  In addition to her collective bargaining responsibilities, Charlene is the liaison between all parties involved with faculty workloads and evaluations.  She coordinates and provides oversight for reappointment, tenure, promotion, and post tenure review.  Charlene’s past experiences include K-12, R&D, banking and ranching.

Caleb is the Administrative Assistant 3, providing coordination and managing general office operations for the Office of the Provost.  He demonstrates professionalism and courtesy in dealing with students, faculty, staff, and external entities.  Caleb provides clerical and administrative support to the Provost, the Faculty Relations Coordinator, and the Senior Academic Financial Manager. He works closely with other staff in the Office of the Provost on a variety of issues and projects.