Wanda Thomas doubled her administrative duties with Kent State last week.

Thomas, who has served as dean of Kent State Trumbull Campus since 2005, became interim executive dean of regional campuses July 15. For the next year, she will fill both roles.

Thomas said her primary duty as interim dean will be to continue the conversion from Kent State’s centralized administration to a more independent administration for each regional campus. This transition began last year with Gregory Andrews, dean of Kent State Tuscarawas Campus and interim executive dean before Thomas.

Independent administrations are helping each branch campus establish its own regional identity. This coincides with higher enrollment and revenues reported at Kent State’s regional campuses in the past year.

Thomas said at the end of her one year term, the office of executive dean of regional campuses is projected to be eliminated.

“I am just filling the role through the transition,” she said.

Contact regional campus reporter Samantha Laros at [email protected].