Welcoming Molly McIntire, Russel Takashima and Terry Allcorn as Our New Deans
ShareA message from Dr. Falecia Williams, West Campus President
Greetings West Campus,
I’m pleased to share several new dean announcements. Molly McIntire has been selected as Dean of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Russell Takashima has been selected as Dean of Mathematics and Terry Allcorn has been selected as Interim Dean of Business and Hospitality.
Introducing Molly McIntire, Dean of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Molly McIntire earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Alabama in 1996 and a Master of Science degree in curriculum and instruction from National-Louis University. From 1996 until 2003, Molly worked as a teacher in K-12 education, educating middle and high school students in a variety of subject areas in Lakeland, Florida. During her time as a secondary teacher, Molly received awards for integrating economics into mathematics education, at both local and national levels.
In 2003, Molly moved to Orlando after accepting a position at Valencia as the manager of advising in the Division of Health Sciences. In 2009, she was offered the position of director of the Educator Preparation Institute, an alternative certification program for K-12 teachers. She then went on to earn her doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Florida (UF) in 2011 and was a finalist for the Outstanding Graduate Award for the Institute of Higher Education. The UF Outstanding Graduate award recognizes exemplary students who have demonstrated service and leadership to the college and the community, while also espousing preparation, readiness and scholarship in their teaching philosophy.
Introducing Russell Takashima, Dean of Mathematics
Born and raised in Hawaii, Russell Takashima earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in 1991. In the years that followed, he taught at Santa Fe Community College and then began his career at Valencia in August of 1994, as an adjunct instructor in the math department – and as a volunteer in the Math Center. He accepted the position of senior full-time instructional assistant, overseeing the lab component for all developmental math courses three years later.
In 2002 Russell earned his master’s degree in mathematical sciences from the University of Central Florida, and during this same time period he also attained tenure – an impressive accomplishment. Two years later, he was offered the position of director of developmental mathematics, in which he led faculty and staff with curriculum, adjunct development and initiatives to promote student learning.
Russell’s success continued, when he received the Raymer F. Maguire Jr. Chair in Mathematics in 2007 and 2010. Throughout his career at Valencia, Russell has been involved with numerous programs, including the Title III Grant in the late 90s, Achieving the Dream, Foundations of Excellence, the Developmental Education Initiative and mostly recently the Statway™ pathway.
Introducing Terry Allcorn, Interim Dean of Business and Hospitality
Terry Allcorn completed his undergraduate studies at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky. Since then, he has earned a Spanish certificate from Rio Grande Language Institute, a master’s degree from Ashland Theological Seminary, a master’s degree from Cleveland State University and a doctorate from Capella University.
Terry and his wife were both born and raised in Ohio, but in different parts of the state. They, and their four children, have called Central Florida home for over 11 years. Prior to Terry’s involvement in higher education, the family lived in Puerto Rico and traveled to several Spanish-speaking countries. Terry has been involved in higher education for over 18 years – with nearly eight of those years as professor and chair of general education at St. Louis Christian College, and 11 years as an administrator at Florida Christian College in Kissimmee. Terry has also been an adjunct Spanish instructor for almost 15 years, and 10 of those years were with Valencia at the Osceola Campus.
Please join me in welcoming Molly, Russell and Terry as our new deans! Cheers!
Falecia
