Mandara D. Savage, who has served as interim director of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Extended Campus since March, is the program’s executive director.
Savage, an associate professor and chair in the Department of Technology, began his new duties Jan. 1. Extended Campus provides online and off-campus academic programs.
James Allen, associate provost for academic programs, said a university screening committee “enthusiastically recommended” Savage’s appointment after a competitive national search and on-campus interview of finalists in December.
“Already the off-campus programs have witnessed a notable improvement in services and support,” Allen said of Savage’s work as interim director.
“I am excited about the opportunities that await Extended Campus and the programs throughout the university,” Savage said. “The purpose of Extended Campus is to, ‘Extend the four walls of the university.’ This is done by offering a first-rate education through expanded availability, increased convenience and affordability. Extended Campus is an important factor in the university’s future growth into new markets and providing the level of quality education for which it is known and recognized. I look forward to working with all constituencies of the university in continuing our progress together.”
Savage came to SIU Carbondale in 1999 as an assistant professor in the Department of Technology. He became associate professor in 2007 and department chair in 2008. While serving as department chair, Savage worked in developing distance education programs, as director of the Technology Off-Campus Degree program (TOCDP), which has 10 locations at community college and military sites in Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas and Delaware. He was a spring 2015 Provost Faculty Fellow at SIU Carbondale. The program provides part-time academic leadership experience and skill development to university faculty with an interest in academic administration.
Savage earned his doctorate in industrial education and technology from Iowa State University, and his Master of Science in manufacturing engineering technology from Memphis State University. He received a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology (electronics) from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
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