News Release

WINONA LAKE — After a year as interim vice president of academic affairs, Grace College named Dr. Laurie Owen the permanent vice president of academic affairs.

Bremer

Owen

Owen has accrued nearly 20 years of experience at Grace College, including ten as the dean of the School of Education. She earned her B.S. from Eastern Illinois University, her M.A. from Ball State University, and her Ph.D. from Walden University.

“Laurie has been a beloved and dynamic leader on campus from the day she arrived,” said Dr. Bill Katip, president of Grace College. “She is a unifying agent at Grace, which has especially been felt over the past year as she’s served as interim vice president. Her insightful leadership and genuine care for our faculty make her ideal for this role,” said Katip.

Owen will continue her oversight of the policies and programs for undergraduate and graduate academics and will serve as the director and coordinator of the work, assessment, and development in these areas.

“I look forward to building relationships with and learning from faculty members across all disciplines and schools,” said Owen. “As I step into this role, one of my chief priorities is to design and implement effective faculty development opportunities based on our faculty’s interests and needs,” she said.

Taking over Owen’s role as head of the education faculty, Dr. Cheryl Bremer will permanently step into the role of dean of the School of Education beginning this semester.

Bremer has 13 years of experience as an education professor at Grace and ten years of experience teaching in public schools.  She has been recognized twice as “Outstanding Special Education Professor” at Indiana’s CEC Conference and has launched countless special education initiatives on campus including the online intense intervention graduate program.

“Cheryl embodies servant leadership,” said Owen. “A driven and informed leader, she will effectively take the School of Education to the next level, preparing and equipping students to become what our schools so desperately need right now — pandemic-proof teachers. Cheryl models Christ-like character, professional competence and selfless service, and she will lead future teachers to do the same,” said Owen.

Photo attached: Grace College recently named Dr. Laurie Owen (Ieft) vice president of academic affairs and Dr. Cheryl Bremer (right) dean of the School of Education.