Jill Rhea Email & Phone Number

Throughout my life, the idea that learning has the power to create positive change, encourage kindness, increase commitment, and energize teams has been confirmed for me. I’ve been fortunate to have worked with, learned from, and mentored countless amazingly wonderful people. I love learning, and I love what learning can do for people and organizations, especially in times of change. I have used my passion for solving problems to make a difference in higher education and in industry. In industry, I’ve been a trainer, facilitator, consultant, and mediator and have worked with dispute resolution, gas, power, and data storage organizations. In the higher education realm, I’ve moved from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor to Full Professor, and from Dean of Online, Site, and Graduate Programs to Vice President of Academic Affairs. My expertise lies in creating strong, inclusive teams; building robust relationships across organizations; empowering people to move productively through conflict; coaching organizational members through strategic problem solving; making tough decisions using solid research, reliable information, and trustworthy data; and building innovative programs that move organizations forward culturally and financially. In my recent positions, I have led teams that helped organizations improve student retention, increase diverse hiring, clarify the many nuances of shared governance, and build new programs while decreasing costs and managing multimillion dollar budgets. My work process begins with listening to multiple perspectives and bringing people together in using quantitative and qualitative data to unravel complex systems and to design agile strategies that address dynamic stakeholder needs. I approach my work with a growth mindset, a sense of humor, and a calming demeanor.Eleanor Roosevelt, one of my favorite historic figures of all time, was eulogized by Adlai Stephenson as being one who would “rather light a candle than curse the darkness.” I wholeheartedly agree with this approach. I believe in the importance of constructive action amid problematic times and know that positive leadership is exemplified through authentic communication, empathic listening, and creative problem solving. Teams will create the best results when they understand both the big picture and the moving parts.My mission is to help create collaborative, fun environments where people enjoy getting things done…together. These environments lead to higher productivity, deeper connections, and a stronger sense of community within the organization.