Thomas More College (TMC) has named Kathleen S. Jagger, Ph.D., vice president of academic affairs and dean of the college.
Her official start date is June 1, 2015.
Jagger comes to Thomas More College from Transylvania University in Lexington where she served for more than seven years in various roles, including interim vice president and dean of the college, associate vice president and associate dean of the college and professor of biology.
Kathleen Jagger
Prior to that, she was a professor of microbiology and public health at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, a visiting professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo, Ohio and an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Wright State University, School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio. Jagger earned her Ph.D. in medical microbiology from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine and her bachelor’s degree in zoology from DePauw University. She also holds a master’s in public health with an emphasis in international (global) health from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts.
Jagger commented on the opportunity to serve TMC. “I think that Thomas More College is poised to make some great steps forward, and I hope that the experience I bring to the position both administratively and in the classroom, as well as my background in service learning, will contribute to that potential.”
TMC President David A. Armstrong, J.D., commented on the hire, “Dr. Jagger’s many accomplishments in the classroom and administrative roles will be immensely beneficial to the college in her position as vice president of academic affairs and dean of the college. Her skills and background offer us a dynamic addition to our liberal arts academic environment. I look forward to her contribution in propelling the college further into our 2015-20 strategic plan, as well as developing new programs and growth initiatives and launching our upcoming Thomas More Success Center.”
Jagger’s scientific research experience is extensive, including bioethics and global health. Both will be a focus within her new role.
“As we prepare our students for any profession, whether that’s as doctors, lawyers, teachers or business professionals, it’s also important to maintain an emphasis on ethics. When students are exposed to courses that are infused with an ethical perspective, they are more prepared when they are out in the world and are faced with making difficult decisions,” she said.
Jagger is also experienced in overseeing service learning initiatives, which play a valuable role in the student experience at TMC.
“I’m looking forward to strengthening the college’s global engagement through more study abroad opportunities and bringing more international students to campus. We are living in a global world, and as we prepare our students to succeed we need to make sure they are comfortable interacting in global settings and working with people from different backgrounds,” she explained.
Jagger is married to Dr. James Jagger, a specialist in primary care orthopedics and sports medicine. They have two sons. Mark, is a physical therapist in the Boston area, and Matt and his wife, Sarah, are attorneys living in Indianapolis with two sons, Avery and Bennett. To learn more about Thomas More College, visit www.thomasmore.edu.
