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Office of the Dean Directory
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| Name | Position | Location | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Phillip Wishon | Dean | Memorial 3175 | 568-6572 | wishonpm@jmu.edu |
| Joyce Conley | Administrative Assistant | Memorial 3175 | 568-6572 | conleyjr@jmu.edu |
| Susan Dendinger | COE Computing Manager | Memorial 7240C | 568-3569 | dendinsd@jmu.edu |
| Catherine Hoffman | Administrative Assistant | Memorial 3270C | 568-2812 | hoffmacf@jmu.edu |
| Dr. Rich Ingram | Coordinator of Technology and Special Projects | Memorial 7220 | 568-6965 | ingramre@jmu.edu |
| Yvonne Miller | Administrative Assistant | Memorial 3175A | 568-6572 | millerys@jmu.edu |
| Dr. Steven Purcell | Coordinator of Special Projects | Memorial 3325C | 568-6793 | purcelsl@jmu.edu |
| Dr. Margaret "Peggy" Shaeffer | Associate Dean | Memorial 3270D | 568-2812 | shaeffmb@jmu.edu |
| Violet Sherman | Administrative Assistant | Memorial 3270 | 568-2813 | shermavm@jmu.edu |
| Lt. Col. Nick Swayne | Coordinator of External Relations | Memorial 3270B | 568-6093 | swaynedd@jmu.edu |
| John Vaughan | Data Management Specialist | Memorial 3205B | 568-4531 | vaughajj@jmu.edu |
| Dr. Vicki Wise | Director of Assessment | Memorial 3205D | 568-4530 | wisevl@jmu.edu |
Return to Office of the Dean Homepage
Phil Wishon -- Dean
A native of Ohio, Dr. Phil Wishon's professional work experience includes having taught elementary school in inner-city Columbus for three years, and preschool for a year at Ohio Wesleyan University's child development center. Phil received his doctoral degree from Ohio State University in child development and early childhood education. His professional interests include education and conscience, children and families at risk, curriculum and program development and assessment, education foundations, performance assessment, play intervention, literacy development, and Japanese-American internment. Over the years, Phil has published widely in these and related areas, including over 100 articles, monographs, book chapters, and books. Phil's contributions to professional associations include tenures as President (and prior to that, Treasurer) of the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators, Treasurer of the Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children, Consulting Editor for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and Editorial Board Member for the journal Young Children. Phil currently serves as a member of the Editorial Board for School Psychology Quarterly, and Executive Editor of the Colorado Early Childhood Journal. Phil comes to James Madison University from the University of Northern Colorado where he served most recently as Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Teacher and Professional Education.
Margaret "Peggy" Shaeffer -- Associate Dean
Dr. Margaret (Peggy) Shaeffer is an Associate Dean in the College of Education at James Madison University. She taught for 10 years in Head Start and kindergarten in schools in the upper Midwest. For over 20 years, Dr. Shaeffer has been involved in higher education, specializing in early childhood education. After completing her PhD in Teacher Education/Early Childhood from the University of North Dakota, Peggy moved to Wyoming and for the next ten years was an assistant and associate professor of early childhood/early childhood special education at the University of Wyoming. In 1996, she returned to the University of North Dakota and for the next ten years served as associate professor in early childhood special education, served as department chair for special education and most recently was the Director of Teacher Education at the University of North Dakota. Her professional interests are in program development in teacher education, promoting the development of partnerships in education and supporting the active engagement of families in the education of their children. She has presented numerous papers at international, national and regional conferences and been actively involved in special grant projects such as the preparation of Native American teachers and Parent Education programs.
Joyce Conley -- Secretary
Joyce Conley joined the Office of the Dean in the College of Education in November 2004. Her previous employment includes 27 years in manufacturing in a variety of areas including assembly line, quality control, team leader, warehouse attendant, receptionist, and human resource assistant. In July 2006, Joyce completed the Administrative Assistant Certification Program offered through JMU’s Training and Development Department. Joyce says the best part of her position here at JMU is the daily interaction with students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Joyce is a native of Greene County. Away from work Joyce enjoys gardening, spending time with family, and cruising the areas country roads in her Miata convertible.
Catherine Hoffman -- Administrative Assistant
Catherine Hoffman has been with the College of Education since November of 1998. Prior to that, she was a stay-at-home mom, who helped her husband with a dairy operation, handling the bookkeeping and secretarial chores. She has a degree in English from the University of Delaware, and has updated her computer skills by enrolling in some courses at Blue Ridge Community College and by attending the excellent training classes offered at JMU. She has two sons, and two wonderful daughters-in-law, who unfortunately do not live close by. A native of Culpeper County, she has lived in Augusta County since 1989. She loves to read, with favorite authors being Jane Austen, Maeve Binchy, and Lee Smith (a Virginian).
Yvonne Miller -- Administrative Assistant
Yvonne S. Miller's employment with James Madison University began in September 1998, in the Office of the Director of the School of Education. Two years later, Yvonne assumed her current position with the Office of the Dean, in the College of Education. Her previous employment includes five years of office related experience in the medical/plastic surgery field and three years of experience in the civil engineering field. Yvonne earned an Associates Degree from Blue Ridge Community College and is a Certified Professional Secretary through the International Association of Administrative Professionals. Currently, Yvonne is a student in the Adult Degree Program pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree. Yvonne is a native of the Shenandoah Valley. Away from work, she is an active 4-H Leader and Horse Judging Coach. Her county horse judging team has earned multiple state championships. She has served as co-coach of the VA State 4-H Horse Judging Team for many years which has earned multiple national championship titles. Yvonne is a carded horse show judge who owns and shows Arabian horses.
Violet Sherman -- Secretary
Violet began her career with James Madison University in 1984 when she was hired as a part-time secretary in the Department of Business Education. In September 1989 she joined the Dept. of Speech-Language Pathology (now know as Communication Science and Disorders) as a full-time administrative assistant where she worked for the next seventeen years. On April 1, 2006, she accepted a position in the Office of the Associate Deans’ in the College of Education. Working at James Madison University has given her the opportunity to learn much about the university and the realm of higher education in general. Working with students is truly one thing that she enjoys about her job.
Violet has two grown sons and four grandchildren – Faith, Hope, Eli, and Daniel all under the age of 5. In her spare time she loves to work in her flower beds and rock gardens surrounding the home she and her husband Paul just recently built and share with with Abby, a Shih-Tzu, and Callie, a calico cat. A new hobby for her is helping her husband restore a 1949 Ford coup her husband started working on many years ago and going to car shows.