January 19, 2022
Trine University has appointed two new academic department chairs for the spring 2022 semester.
Chad Keefer, Ed.D., associate professor of physics, will be chair of the new Department
of Physics.
A Fort Wayne native who graduated from Northrop High School, Keefer has taught at Trine since 2005. He holds a Bachelor of Science in secondary science education, a Master of Arts in physics, Master of Arts in chemistry and Ed.D. in science, all from Ball State University.
Marissa Nichols, who had served as chair of the Department of Mathematics and Physics, will remain chair of the Department of Mathematics.
Debbie Richard, assistant professor, has been named department chair for the Ketner School of Business. She replaces Toby Swick, who retired at the end of the fall 2021 semester.
Richard has been at Trine since 2014, when she joined the university’s Office of University
Marketing and Communications as director of digital marketing. She transitioned to
a full-time faculty role in 2019 after teaching on an adjunct basis for several years.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in business management, MBA and Master of Business and Organizational Leadership from Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio.
“It’s always a pleasure to welcome distinguished faculty members into new roles with increasing areas of responsibility,” said John Shannon, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs. “We look forward to the growth each department will experience under Chad and Debbie’s leadership.”
Trine University and Ivy Tech Community College are expanding their partnership to allow more Ivy Tech graduates to seamlessly transfer into Trine University bachelor’s degree programs.
Low-income residents or those with disabilities or limited English proficiency can once again get their taxes prepared and filed electronically at no cost this spring through the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program hosted by Trine University.
Trine University has received a $200,000 planning grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help the university explore various challenges and opportunities arising from rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and guide their integration into curricula.