Blackburn College is pleased to announce the appointment of several new members to its senior leadership team, as well as the addition of new faculty and staff for the upcoming academic year. These new leaders and educators bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, and dedication to the college, further strengthening its commitment to academic excellence and community engagement.
President Larry K. Lee expressed enthusiasm about the new additions, stating, “We are excited to welcome such a talented and diverse group of leaders and educators to Blackburn College. Each person brings unique strengths and perspectives that will enrich our campus community and help us continue to deliver an exceptional educational experience to our students.”
New Senior Leaders
Logan Elliott ‘18, Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students: After graduating from Blackburn with a degree in Organizational Leadership, Elliott earned his Master’s in Student Affairs at Missouri State University. He was the Student Activities & Orientation Coordinator at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he gained additional valuable experience before returning to Blackburn in 2022 as the Director of Student Engagement and Director of Inclusive Housing. He served as the Interim Vice President and Dean for the 2023-2024 academic year.
“As an alum, it is no exaggeration to say that attending Blackburn College changed the trajectory of my life,” Elliott said. “It is where I discovered my passion for learning and striving toward excellence, and I found joy in teaching, serving others, and giving back to my community. One of the main reasons I was interested in being back in this space and serving in this role is to be able to provide the support, resources, and advocacy that student affairs professionals at Blackburn provided for me during my journey, as I would not be where I am today without them.”
He continued, “I could not be more grateful for the dedicated team I am lucky to be a part of in Student Life. The professionals & students in our division have been nothing but supportive and gracious in this transitional time. I am excited to work with President Lee and the other members of the senior staff as we work to continue expanding our co-curricular programs, improving our residential experiences, and fostering a culture of respect and belonging for all Blackburn students.”
Leslie Johnson, Dean of Work: Leslie Johnson has been named the Marguerite Steffey Snyder Endowed Dean of Work. One of ten federally recognized Work Colleges, Blackburn is the only school in the nation to have a program managed by a team of student leaders. As the Dean of Work, Johnson will coach and mentor the Student Work Committee, which maintains operations across 12 student work departments. Before arriving at Blackburn, Johnson spent ten years as the Assistant Vice President of Student Success at Lincoln Land Community College. Prior to that, she worked as the Director of the Litchfield and Hillsboro Outreach Centers for Lincoln Land. Johnson has also obtained valuable experience in admissions, residential life, and student programming at Fontbonne University, Southern University of Carbondale, and MacMurray College.
“I am honored to join the Blackburn College family as Dean of Work,” said Johnson. “I attended a liberal arts college so I know first-hand the growth and opportunities a liberal arts education provides students. I am impressed by Blackburn’s dedication to student success and how much their faculty and staff care for students. I look forward to being a part of the amazing transformations already happening through their student-managed work program, academics, and co-curricular opportunities.”
Deana Rogers, Vice President for Administration & Finance (VPAF): Rogers steps into the role with 30 years of professional expertise in tax, auditing, accounting, and finance. For ten years, she served as an Accountant/CPA at Fleming Tawfall & Company and 11 years as a corporate accountant at Prairie Farms Dairy. She first joined Blackburn in 2019 as Controller and then began serving as Interim VPAF in February 2024.
Rogers says, “Blackburn’s unique environment empowers students academically and professionally, accelerating their success beyond graduation. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Vice President of Administration & Finance and honored to be part of Blackburn’s plan for sustainability, leading to a promising future. I look forward to continuing to work alongside everyone on the Blackburn team to provide the best possible experience for our students.”
New Full-Time Faculty
- Megan Beeler, Visiting Professor of Business Administration & Economics
- Kara Bolton, Visiting Professor of Education
- Adam Flores, Visiting Professor of Theatre
- Carissa Hammann, Professor of Chemistry
- Jody Jedlicka, Professor of Art
- Marchelle Kassenbaum, Visiting Professor of Education
- Katura Lesane, Visiting Professor of Education
- Lauren Rea Preston, Visiting Professor of Education
- Chad Smith, Professor of Education
- Cady Thomas Potts, Visiting Professor of Music
- Ozalle Toms, Visiting Professor of Education
- Cynthia Ward, Visiting Professor of Education
New Full-Time Staff
- Marcella Cloud ’16 – Volunteer Chaplain
- Noah Daum ‘18 – Head Coach, Cross Country and Track & Field
- Mackenzie David – Blackburn & Beyond Student Support Paraprofessional
- Heather Heater – Assistant Coach, Softball and Volleyball; Recreation Coordinator
- Jacob Kraft – Head Coach, Baseball
- Dawn Peterson ’06 – Institutional Advancement Manager
- Jaime Pineda ‘24 – Resident Director for Campus Safety and Wellness
- Claire Stein ‘24 – Blackburn & Beyond Student Support Paraprofessional