Villa Maria College started the Spring 2023 semester with a new member of its academic team – Dr. Kristin McCombs. Dr. McCombs joined the College in January 2023 as the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Dr. McCombs has an extensive background in higher education, including experience in instructional design, teaching, faculty training, and senior leadership.
Previously, she served as the Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs at Wheeling University in West Virginia. There, she managed all full-time and part-time faculty, led assessment and compliance efforts, developed certificate programs, improved retention strategies, conducted faculty development sessions, and more.
She has also worked as the Chair of Psychology at Bethany College, the Chair of Social Sciences at Wheeling University, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Wheeling University, Instructional Designer at Wheeling University, and Cadre Faculty Development Instructor at the University of Louisville. Dr. McCombs has been published five times, has submitted several grant proposals, and has presented at over 30 conferences.
Dr. McCombs received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and History from Wheeling Jesuit University, a Master of Arts in Research Methods in Psychology in Education from the University of Pittsburgh and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology/Instructional Technology from Kent State University.
In her new role at Villa Maria, Dr. McCombs will lead multiple projects carrying out the College’s strategic initiatives within academics. This includes the development of new graduate and undergraduate programs, leading and supporting faculty in the creation and implementation of all online and new curriculum, evaluation of the College’s advisement model, and steering the College in its established assessment efforts. Additionally, she will aid in the creation and instructional design of all new programs and certificates, both online and in-person, and provides aid in all assessment and accreditation processes.
