Gardner-Webb Provost Names Dr. Jennifer Buckner Interim Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences

National Search Process Underway for New Dean

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Gardner-Webb University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Karen Aubrey has announced that Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences Dr. Jennifer Bucker has been named interim dean, effective immediately. Buckner, who also serves as a professor of English, has served as associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences since November 2021.

“Jennifer Buckner will provide continuity for the departments and programs in College of Arts & Sciences,” Aubrey affirmed. “With her 15 years of service to GWU, Buckner will be able to effectively lead the College to pursue the University’s mission of preparing graduates for leadership and service in their communities.”  

Buckner came to Gardner-Webb in 2007 as the director of Peer Tutoring and Developmental Education and instructor of English. She has also served as the director of the Writing Center and is a professor and a past chair of the Department of English Language and Literature. She has a MA in English from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Ph.D. in English, writing, rhetoric and new media from Old Dominion University (Norfolk, Va.).

“It is an honor to serve as interim dean,” Buckner shared. “I see this as an opportunity to celebrate the thoughtful contributions the faculty and students in the College of Arts and Sciences are making at Gardner-Webb. We know industry is looking for the skills our University teaches; I look forward to collaborating with colleagues to find creative ways to marry what the world needs with what we’re passionate about.”

Buckner’s responsibilities include collaborating with the Office of Enrollment Management to grow enrollment and the Office of Advancement on fundraising activities. She will work closely with other deans and professional program leaders to integrate the arts and sciences with professional programs.

A national search process for a new dean of the College of Arts & Sciences is underway.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to six professional schools, 14 academic departments, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.