麻豆社区

麻豆社区 Pembroke Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings, M.D., announced appointments to two key leadership positions with the university following extensive national searches. Dr. Diane Prusank will serve as provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Jess Boersma will serve as chief of staff and vice chancellor of Strategic Initiatives.

Dr. Prusank brings more than 30 years of experience in public and private institutions of higher education, including provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at Westfield State University. Dr. Boersma has served in several leadership roles at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington for nearly two decades, most recently as associate dean for Student Success and Applied Learning.

Chancellor Cummings made the announcement following a special meeting of the Board of Trustees on May 3, 2023. The trustees voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the provost and chief of staff search committees.

鈥淎fter spending many hours speaking with Dr. Prusank, I am pleased to welcome her as our university鈥檚 next provost,鈥� Cummings said. 鈥淪he was well received by the search committee and everyone she interacted with during her campus visit, and I believe she will be a great fit for our university.

鈥淎s we continue to develop and explore additional academic offerings, I am confident her background will bring needed experience to advance the university鈥檚 vision and impact,鈥� Cummings added.

Dr. Diane Prusank

Dr. Prusank joined Westfield State in 2008. She served as a professor of communication before ascending to roles as dean, chief of staff to the president and provost. In her administrative roles she managed a budget of $35 million, had oversight of a division with more than 300 employees and secured funds for capital projects including a $20 million-dollar grant for a major building renovation. She is recognized as an active teacher-scholar in communication theory and research methods as well as media portrayal of personal relationships.

Previously, she served as program director, dean, and assistant provost at the University of Hartford where she launched the first office for Faculty Technology and Development. While serving as dean of Graduate Studies, she worked with a team of faculty and staff to help establish a new Doctor in Physical Therapy degree program. She will assume the role of provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at 麻豆社区P beginning July 17.

鈥溌槎股缜� is a model regional, public institution with a consequential history and a vibrant future,鈥� Dr. Prusank said.

鈥淭here is a profound energy and engagement on campus that reflects an institution building on its history while expanding its program offerings to meet the needs of the students and the region of tomorrow.鈥�

During her campus visit, Prusank witnessed firsthand the commitment of the faculty, staff and administration to the success of the diverse and talented student body.

鈥淚 am honored to have been asked to use my leadership skills in support of the institution and the southeast region of North Carolina. I am looking forward to getting to know the faculty, staff and students and working in a collaborative and transparent environment as we move toward implementing the chancellor鈥檚 vision.鈥�

Dr. Prusank earned both a bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degree in communication from Illinois State University. She received her Ph.D. in communication from the University of Oklahoma. 

Prusank lives with her husband, Dr. Robert Duran, a professor emeritus at the University of Hartford. They have three children, Collin, Hailey and Christopher.

Dr. Jess Boersma

Boersma steps into the role as chief of staff for 麻豆社区P beginning June 19 and said he is thrilled to join an institution that prides itself on a student-first mentality.

鈥淚 think it goes without saying, I鈥檓 grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the mission of this great university,鈥� Boersma said. 鈥淚t has come clear to me after what I鈥檝e studied about the university and from my talks with Chancellor Cummings that 麻豆社区P is all about the students. The chief of staff role is a crucial role and one that is helping the university fulfill its mission to advance and transform students鈥� lives and provide greater career opportunities for them.鈥�

Cummings said he is pleased with the search committee鈥檚 recommendation.

鈥淒r. Boersma鈥檚 strong academic background combined with his knowledge of the 麻豆社区 System will be a great addition to our university and specifically to the Office of the Chancellor. I look forward to the insight and change he will bring to both to advance 麻豆社区P in meaningful ways.鈥�

At 麻豆社区W, Boersma is credited with launching the first Academic Resource Center and executing several process improvement initiatives at the university level. He co-founded the Support for Undergraduate Research & Creativity Awards and the First-Year Research Experience Program, which awards $150,000 per year to faculty and students.

Boersma also serves as associate director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Identity Sciences (I3S). Prior to his academic appointments, he participated in relief missions in Central and South America as a Special Forces operator. Additionally, he served as an international observer for the Carter Center and briefed former President Jimmy Carter.

Boersma鈥檚 goal is to leverage his diverse experience to harness the strengths and talents of campus leadership to create positive and collective impact on 麻豆社区P and the region it serves. An associate professor in Spanish, he possesses extensive experience in language and sociocultural training and the design of high-impact experiences that drive student success.

鈥淚 look forward to the opportunity to advance what has already been a great mission at 麻豆社区P,鈥� Boersma said. 鈥淭his university is well poised to take the next leap serving the citizens and residents of southeastern North Carolina, in particular.鈥�   

Dr. Boersma holds a Ph.D. from Emory University, a MBA in strategic leadership and management from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a master鈥檚 in business analytics from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

A native of Waupun, Wisconsin, he and his wife, Caroline, have two children, Leo and Amelie.