Leadership in the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing today to announce the interim leadership team that will guide the College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences beginning July 1, 2026.  I am very pleased to notify you that Dr. Katherine Reedy will serve as the interim dean of the College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences, with Drs. Esther Ntuli and Jessica Winston serving as associate deans.  Each of these leaders brings a wealth of scholarly excellence and administrative experience to their new roles, and I am deeply grateful to each of them for their willingness to serve in these roles in ISU’s newest college.

Professor Katherine Reedy
For those who are not familiar with Interim Dean Reedy, she is a respected Professor of Anthropology whose scholarly work focuses heavily on environmental anthropology, human ecology, and the intersection of human societies and marine environments. Her extensive research, particularly regarding fisheries livelihoods and indigenous resource management, demonstrates a commitment to applied, impactful social science. She brings a strong record of academic leadership, grant management, and interdisciplinary collaboration that makes her exceptionally well-suited to guide CHESS in its inaugural year.

Professor Esther Ntuli
Dr. Ntuli is a distinguished Professor in the Department of Teaching and Educational Studies. Her scholarship and research center on educational technology, instructional design, and early childhood education. With a proven track record of securing significant grant funding and advancing innovative pedagogical approaches, Dr. Ntuli has consistently demonstrated her dedication to preparing the next generation of educators. Her forward-thinking approach, her scholarly acumen, her significant tenure in previous academic leadership positions, and her strong sense of integrity will be an incredible asset to the School of Education and the college more broadly.

Professor Jessica Winston
Dr. Winston is an accomplished Professor of English and a highly regarded scholar of Renaissance English literature. Her research uniquely explores the intersections of literature, law, and politics in the sixteenth century, with significant contributions to the study of Shakespeare and early English drama. Her deep commitment to the humanities, paired with her extensive experience in faculty leadership and curriculum development, will serve the college and the School of Humanities incredibly well.

I am immensely optimistic about the future of the new college under this talented leadership team. They possess the vision, the scholarly credibility, and the collaborative mindset necessary to unite these distinct disciplines and forge a strong identity for CHESS.  I am confident that you will find them, as I do, to be an open, thoughtful, collaborative, and engaged group of leaders capable of successfully launching this new endeavor.

I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the college leadership teams in the current College of Arts and Letters and the College of Education for the service they have provided in their various roles:  Dr. Esther Ntuli (Interim Dean in COE), Dr. Kate Reedy (Interim Dean in CAL), Dr. John Gribas (Associate Dean in CAL), Dr. Zackary Heern (Associate Dean in CAL), Dr. John Curry (Associate Dean in COE), and Dr. Emma Wood (Assistant Dean in COE).  These individuals have been stalwartly engaged in shepherding the affairs of the two colleges they represent for many years.  The work they have done to guide their respective colleges through this transitional period has been monumental. Their steady leadership, tireless advocacy, and dedication to our university community have laid a solid foundation for this next chapter.  ISU is fortunate to have benefitted from their dedicated leadership, and they have served selflessly in the roles they have held.  I want to thank them, personally, for all they have done to sustain their colleges and the institution – oftentimes in difficult and trying circumstances.  I look forward to working with each of these individuals in future endeavors.

I would also like to thank you – our COE and CAL faculty and staff – for the resilience, dedication, understanding and collaborative spirit that you have offered over the past academic year. I know we have navigated incredibly challenging budget conditions together, but the way you have responded to these hurdles—with grace, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to our students—has been humbling.  I am honored to work alongside you.  Furthermore, I am deeply appreciative of the way you have embraced the reorganization and the new possibilities inherent in launching the College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences (CHESS). Your willingness to look toward the future is playing a meaningful role in shaping the continued growth and evolution of this institution.  

Please note that we will be launching a national search in the Fall of 2026 to identify a permanent Dean for the college, with an anticipated start date of July 2027. In the meantime, I know you will join me in supporting Drs. Reedy, Ntuli, and Winston as they take on these vital roles.

Thank you once again for your hard work, your patience, and your dedication to Idaho State University.

Sincerely,

Dr. Adam Bradford
Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Idaho State University