A Dean with A Mission

Delana Schartner Charts a New Course for Georgia Southern’s Latest College

Delana Schartner, Ph.D., the founding dean of Georgia Southern University’s newest college, is excited about her new role. A former chemistry professor, she explained her love for academia started when she was a child, “playing school” with friends.

“Teaching was my first love,” she said, “and chemistry was my second. Nothing beats seeing a student figure out their unknown or solve a complex analytical problem for the first time.”

In the 26 years since she joined Armstrong State University as a visiting faculty member, Schartner has taken on several leadership roles. She served as associate provost for student engagement and success, then dean of the College of Science and Technology at Armstrong. In 2018, she became dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at Georgia Southern, and most recently, served as assistant provost and vice president for Academic Policy and Initiatives, where she continues to devote a portion of her time. These experiences, Schartner explained, prepared her for the new position as dean of University College, which was created following the consolidation with East Georgia State College.

“It has been an incredible journey from the classroom to the lab to various administrative roles,” Schartner stated. “University College’s mission is to expand access, accelerate student success and connect educational experiences to careers, communities and lives with meaning. That vision resonates deeply with everything I have worked toward throughout my career.”

The College serves as the academic home for students in associate degree programs, interdisciplinary bachelor’s degrees, dual enrollment, ROTC, continuing and professional education, and a variety of other academic programs.

“University College needs to deliver on the promise of seamless, stackable pathways from non-credit learning into associate, bachelor’s and graduate programs, and that is my primary goal,” she explained. “My job is to make that vision real and tangible for every student who walks through our doors, whether physically or virtually. I also want to grow our fundraising capacity so we can offer more scholarships and wrap-around support for students who are balancing jobs, families and coursework all at once.”

Schartner’s days are largely filled with meetings and strategic planning; she enjoys tackling the challenges that come with her role as dean of University College.

“I love that there are so many different areas that need focus and attention — I can accomplish 50 different things for 50 different people or situations in a day, and that diversity of activity keeps me going,” she said. “It is also the challenge. Being pulled in many directions can wear on you if you don’t have an outlet or can’t get something solved. But honestly, the days when a student’s path gets a little clearer because of something we figured out together — those are the best days.”

After a day of “knitting together” various academic programs, the dean finds balance in a surprising mix of hobbies that include boating, camping, a spot in a band and playing with her 13-year-old cocker spaniel named LC.

— Sandra Bennett