Office of the Provost
Ensuring Excellence in all Aspects of Student Life and Learning
Creighton University’s provost, Mardell A. Wilson, EdD, is the institution’s chief academic officer. The Office of the Provost oversees each aspect of the educational experience for all Creighton students.
Mardell Wilson, EdD, was named provost at Creighton University effective Oct. 1, 2020.
Dr. Wilson previously served as professor and dean of the Edward and Margaret Doisy College of Health Sciences at Saint Louis University (SLU) since August 2014.
Prior to her time at SLU, Dr. Wilson spent 17 years as a professor and administrator at Illinois State University. From 2009 to 2014, she served as the associate vice president for Academic Fiscal Management in the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Illinois State.
She began her tenure at Illinois State in 1997 as an assistant professor of food, nutrition and dietetics in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and was promoted to full professor in 2010. She also served terms as acting associate provost and assistant provost.
Dr. Wilson earned her undergraduate degree in human resources and family studies dietetics from the University of Illinois and her master’s degree in the field from Eastern Illinois University. Her EdD is in curriculum and instruction from Illinois State University. Dr. Wilson is a registered dietitian nutritionist.
At both SLU and Illinois State, Dr. Wilson worked to cultivate an environment in which inclusivity and appreciation for diverse perspectives were fostered and celebrated.
With her background in the allied health professions and in her role as dean of the health sciences college at SLU, Dr. Wilson effectively collaborated with deans and faculty across the university’s schools and colleges, and developed a five-year research plan, a peer-reviewed publication support program, and the foundation for an interdisciplinary PhD program, among other initiatives.
All schools and colleges report to the provost, in addition to the following areas:
Enrollment Management
Mary E. Chase, EdD
Vice Provost, Enrollment Management
MaryChase@creighton.edu
Faculty and Academic Affairs
A. Barron Breland, DM
Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs
barronbreland@creighton.edu
Global Engagement
René Padilla, PhD
Vice Provost, Global Engagement
RenePadilla@creighton.edu
Learning and Assessment
Gail M. Jensen, PhD
Vice Provost, Learning and Assessment
GailJensen@creighton.edu
Libraries
Becky Wymer, MALS
Interim University Librarian
beckywymer@creighton.edu
Research and Scholarship
Julie Strauss-Soukup, PhD
Associate Vice Provost, Research & Scholarship
jksoukup@creighton.edu
Student Life
Leanna Fenneberg, PhD
Acting Vice Provost, Student Life
leannafenneberg@creighton.edu
Student Success
W. Wayne Young, Jr., PhD
Vice Provost for Student Success
williamyoung2@creighton.edu
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Deans of Schools and Colleges

A. Barron Breland, DM
- Dean, Graduate School
- 402.280.1456
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Robert W. Dunlay, MD
- Dean, School of Medicine
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Joshua Paul Fershee, JD
- Dean, School of Law
- 402.280.2874
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Anthony R. Hendrickson, PhD
- Dean, Heider College of Business
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Helen Hurst, DNP, RNC-OB, APRN-CNM
- Co-Dean, College of Nursing
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Bridget M. Keegan, MA, PhD
- Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
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Mary Kunes-Connell, PhD, RN
- Co-Dean, College of Nursing
- 402.280.2024
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Gayla Stoner, PhD
- Dean, College of Professional and Continuing Education
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Jillian A. Wallen, BDS, MS
- Dean, School of Dentistry
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Amy F. Wilson, PharmD
- Dean, School of Pharmacy & Health Professions
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