Promotions
WIBW-TV general manager Roger Brokke has promoted veteran anchor/reporter Melissa Brunner to the news director position. Brunner succeeds Jon Janes, who retired after 24 years leading the 13 NEWS team and 51 years in journalism. She will continue to host Eye on Northeast Kansas and co-anchor 13 NEWS at 6 pm alongside David Oliver. “I look forward to continuing the strong tradition of local news for which WIBW-TV has always been known,” Brunner said. “We have a fantastic team who are dedicated to providing quality journalism every day. It’s a joy to work alongside them.” Brunner has been with WIBW-TV for 27 years. Her work has won numerous awards from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters and Kansas City Press Club; she’s been part of the team that’s won six Heartland Regional Emmys for Best Newscast; her anchor and reporting work has earned two Emmy nominations; and she won a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for writing. Brunner is a native of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. She and her husband, WIBW-TV chief photojournalist Doug Brown, live in Topeka.
Washburn University has announced several promotions as follows:
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Added the designation of provost to the vice president for academic affairs position held by Laura Stephenson. She continues with the same roles and responsibilities, serving as the chief academic officer responsible for overseeing all matters relating to the academic enterprise at Washburn University and Washburn Tech. Stephenson is filling the role on an interim basis while a national search is being conducted for a permanent provost and vice president for academic affairs.
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Named Danny Wade assistant provost for faculty development. This new position increases the focus on new faculty recruitment, onboarding, mentoring, the tenure and promotion process as well as the Center for Teaching Excellence and Learning. Wade will also serve as the point person in the Provost’s Office for student academic concerns. Wade joined the Washburn faculty in 2008 as an assistant professor and program coordinator for English Education. He received tenure at Washburn in 2012 and was promoted to full professor in 2021. He has served as Chair of the Department of English for five years.
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Named Beth O’Neill assistant provost for curricula and program innovation. This new position increases focus on new program analysis and development, program review and assessment, reporting and support of faculty governance structures in the review of curricula. O’Neill joined Washburn in 2018 as an assistant professor in social work and received tenure in 2023. She has served as a program director in the department of social work and is currently Washburn’s director of assessment.
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Named Kelly Erby interim dean for the College of Arts and Sciences. Erby earned a bachelor’s degree in history and English from the Ohio State University and her master’s and doctorate in history from Emory University. She joined Washburn in 2011 as an assistant professor in history, received tenure in 2017 and was promoted to full professor in 2021. Since 2019, Erby has served as an assistant or associate dean of Washburn’s College of Arts and Sciences. A national search for a permanent dean will be conducted in the upcoming academic year.
Topeka-area hirings, promotions, retirements and other announcements can be emailed to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: It’s Your Business has WIBW-TV and Washburn University