Four Women Selected for New Dean Positions at Colleges and Universities

Brittany Helmbrecht has been named interim dean of professional studies and applied sciences at Chadron State College in Nebraska. She has been a member of the college’s faculty since 2015, teaching courses on fitness, wellness, and health education. In addition to her teaching role, she serves as the college’s first-ever woman faculty athletic representative.

Dr. Helmbrecht holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Central Michigan University, a master’s degree in physical education from the University of Nebraska Kearney, and a doctorate in health education from A.T. Still University in Missouri.

Rena Hallam has been selected to serve as interim dean of the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Delaware. She first joined the university in 2010 as an associate professor. Currently, she serves as a professor of human development and family sciences, director of the Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood, and partner with the National Early Care and Education Workforce Center.

Dr. Hallam is a graduate of Transylvania University in Kentucky. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and a doctorate in family studies from the University of Delaware.

Lisa Wilder has been named dean of the School of Business and Professional Studies at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania. She has been a faculty member with the university since 2001. During her tenure, she served three separate terms as chair of the department of business, accounting, and economics.

Dr. Wilder holds a Ph.D. in economics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Mandy Castro has been appointed dean of undergraduate admission at Texas Christian University in Forth Worth. For the past seven years, she has served as the university’s director of undergraduate admissions. She previously held various students services positions with the University of Oklahoma.

Castro holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and Spanish and a master’s degree in organizational dynamics from the University of Oklahoma.