SHANA GARRETT, PhD, LPC, MBA, NCC
Carrollton,TX
Summary
Seasoned education administrator with a comprehensive background in fostering academic excellence and operational efficiency within postsecondary institutions. Skilled in developing and implementing innovative educational programs, enhancing student engagement, and leading faculty professional development initiatives. Demonstrated ability to improve academic standards and campus diversity through strategic planning and policy reform. Successfully raised student retention rates and facilitated collaborative partnerships between departments to support institutional goals.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
College Dean
Walden University
11.2022 - Current
- Company Overview: University reorganized the academic structure and expanded responsibilities to include more appointments within the institution
- Supervise and lead the College of Psychology and Community Services to include: School of Criminal Justice, School of Psychology, and School of Human Services
- Increased college NPS scores by +19 points overall CPCS programs: 3 years of 10+ points increase
- Improved faculty performance to sustain an overall 98% classroom compliance
- Developed and launched a retention scorecard for all degree levels to improve retention rates and graduation rates: Lowest retention rate/highest graduation rate across division
- University reorganized the academic structure and expanded responsibilities to include more appointments within the institution
- Supervise and lead the College of Psychology and Community Services to include: School of Criminal Justice, School of Psychology, and School of Human Services
Dean
Walden University
01.2015 - 10.2022
- Supervise and lead three schools within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Leadership for 10 Program Directors, Director of Assessment, CSBS Research Coordinator, 15 Program Coordinators, and 43 core faculty members who manage all course session activities and faculty performance in the online classroom
- Responsible for the strategic and tactical oversight of all 9 doctoral programs, 11 graduate, and 2 undergraduate programs
- Accountable for three school verticals, including strategic planning and program development, faculty performance, student progression, and retention efforts, are major components of my duties
- Reduced student complaints by 20% in the first year as well as reduced faculty waivers by 85% (Cost savings was $400k)
- Improved student retention by 37% first year: continual improvement ranging from an additional 5-10%
- Improved graduation rate by 30% first year: continual improvement ranging from 3-8%
Interim Vice President for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Walden University
05.2016 - 10.2016
- Served as the Interim VP for both CSBS and CHS in providing the strategic vision, academic operations as well as business needs within the two largest colleges at Walden University
- Led the academic strategy and business operations for the following colleges: Counseling, Human Services, Nursing, Public Health, Public Policy and Administration, Psychology, and Social Work
- Developed both short-term and long-term strategic planning and budgets for these colleges as well as identifying new growth opportunities
Vice President of Academic Affairs
Colorado Technical University
06.2012 - 01.2015
- Supervised a leadership team responsible for the daily and strategic operation of remote faculty and the online classroom
- Led Academic operations team in over ninety individual and departmental projects, leading to improved efficiencies within our team
- Ensure compliance with all state licensing, accreditation, and licensure standards while contributing to decision-making, institutional effectiveness, and strategic planning at the online campus
- Reduced quantity of online faculty to create a diverse cross-credentialed team more fiscally responsible with higher quality engagement for students, resulting in reduced faculty overhead by 15%
- Modified academic operations processes and policies to implement efficiencies and consolidate efforts
- Reduced student complaints by 35% in one academic year
Vice President of Academic Affairs
The College of Health Care Professions
07.2011 - 05.2012
- Company Overview: The startup division required the development and establishment of all new allied health online programs, including all academic instruction, operational policies & procedures, the faculty hiring process, and training program
- Provided leadership in the design, strategy, and evaluation of all academic courses and activities related to new and continuing programs within the Online Division of CHCP
- Assemble and supervise the academic/operations departments in a startup environment
- The startup division required the development and establishment of all new allied health online programs, including all academic instruction, operational policies & procedures, the faculty hiring process, and training program
- Developed and implemented from the ground up, three new programs through three separate accreditation processes and integrated corresponding pathways to CEUs
- Created all academic operations processes and policies, including faculty hiring, classroom expectations, and all academic and programmatic training program
Education
PhD - Psychology
Saybrook University
San Francisco, CA01.2009
Master of Business Administration - Project Management specialization
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN01.2022
Certificate - Geriatric Psychology
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN01.2001
Master of Arts - Clinical Psychology
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA01.2000
Paralegal Certificate -
University of North Texas
01.1993
Bachelor of Arts - Counseling Psychology
University of North Texas
01.1993
Skills
- Transformative leadership with a shared decision-making and problem-solving approach
- Recognized as a top 10% leader within system-wide Laureate Education Universities
- Identified as a positive leader within Walden and Laureate Universities, Executive Committee, and Task Force
- Nominated for Adtalem’s 2024 Remarkable Woman Award finalist
- International and national presenter on authentic leadership approaches, mentoring, and work/life balance topics
- 20 years of program start-up, development, and operational turnarounds
- Maintained the largest division of 4 deans, 25 program directors, 130 full-time faculty, 1,500 adjuncts, and 50,000 online students
- Program management with significant experience in accreditation, regulatory matters, and government relations
- Experienced in developing new audiences, innovation in virtual offerings, and complementary offerings to standing programs
- Strategic planning and project management talents using appropriate and viable analysis tools
- Fiscal responsibility for the budget, marketing interactions, projects, and retention
- Risk/program analysis, including legal liabilities, program viability, and forecasting and delivering plans
- Program assessment, evaluations, and feedback elements for growth, interventions, and productivity across all levels
- Proficient in analyzing data trends, driving process improvements, and training initiatives to enhance efficiency, and decisively achieve defined goals
Certification
- Licensed Professional Counselor, Texas, 03/01/08, Current
- National Certified Counselor, National Board of Certified Counselors, 04/01/09, Current
Publications
- Panel Discussion: Leadership Journey: Women Executive share their paths to success, 03/01/24, CXO 2.0/ ED 2.0 Conference, Awarded Outstanding Leadership Award
- Pure Heart Leadership, 09/01/23, Mindful Leader, Washington, DC
- Keynote Speaker: The Complex Community of Higher Education, 04/01/23, University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX
- Pure Heart Leadership, 03/01/23, 3rd International Women Influencers Network and Women’s Leadership Congress, Paris, France
- Keynote Speaker: Translating Communications to Transforming Connections, 02/01/23, Midwestern Higher Education Company, Chicago, IL
- Commencement speaker at Walden University’s 68th Commencement Ceremony, 01/01/23, Orlando, FL
- Psych’d about the Future, 05/01/22, Keynote Speaker, Walden University, Virtual Conference
- Revisioning Criminal Justice: Moving the Industry beyond 2022, 03/01/22, Founder and Keynote, Walden University, Virtual Conference
- Real World Solutions for Real World Problems: Expanding the Women-In Leadership Advantage, 08/01/21, Several sessions: Opening Remarks, Superwoman Myth; Imposter Syndrome; Reflective Session Facilitator, Walden University-Center for Social Change, Virtual Conference
- Pure Heart Leadership: An authentic approach to leadership, 03/01/21, 12th Annual Women’s Leadership and Empowerment Conference, Virtual Conference
- Pure Heart Leadership: An authentic approach to leadership, 03/01/21, Oxford’s Women Leadership Symposium, Virtual Conference
- Pure Heart Leadership: An authentic approach to leadership, 04/01/20, Online Learning Consortium Innovate, Virtual Conference
- Pure Heart Leadership: An authentic approach to leadership, 07/01/20, United States Distance Learning Association Annual Conference, Virtual Conference
- Podcast Interview: Episode 12: Dr. Shana Garrett, Pure Heart Leadership, 07/21/20, https://rss.com/podcasts/usdla/59516/
Board Experience
- United States Distance Learning Association, Board of Directors, President-Elect 2024/President in 2025
- City of Carrollton Library Board, Board of Directors, 10/01/21, Current
Accomplishments
Finalist for Adtalem's Remarkable Women award- 2024
Outstanding Leadership Award- Education 2.0.- 2024
Recognized as a Top 10% Leader within system-wide Laureate Education Universities- 2019
Identified as a Positive Leader within Walden and Laureate Universities: Executive Committee & Task Force-2018-2021
Affiliations
- Featured in Higher Ed Digest: Advancing Authentic Leaders within the Higher Education Community- December 2023
Timeline
College Dean
Walden University
11.2022 - Current
Interim Vice President for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Walden University
05.2016 - 10.2016
Dean
Walden University
01.2015 - 10.2022
Vice President of Academic Affairs
Colorado Technical University
06.2012 - 01.2015
Vice President of Academic Affairs
The College of Health Care Professions
07.2011 - 05.2012
PhD - Psychology
Saybrook University
Master of Business Administration - Project Management specialization
Walden University
Certificate - Geriatric Psychology
Capella University
Master of Arts - Clinical Psychology
Pepperdine University
Paralegal Certificate -
University of North Texas
Bachelor of Arts - Counseling Psychology
University of North Texas
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