CHADRON – Following a nationwide search, Dr. Shaunda French-Collins has been named the Dean of the School of Business, Mathematics, and Science.

“I’m very excited to be back in the School of BMS and in the deanship role. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with the talented students, faculty, and staff in these fantastic departments,” said French-Collins, who served as interim dean of Business, Mathematics, and Science from 2022-23.

French-Collins said the best insight she gained as interim dean was to remain student-focused and colleague-focused.

“I will continue to ask, when making decisions, ‘Is this decision best for our students? Our faculty, and our staff?’” she said.

French-Collins began her teaching career at CSC in 2011 and has sponsored several successful events, including The Big Event. Most recently, French-Collins was a Professor of Communication Arts and Department Chair, as well as CSC’s Teaching Excellence Award recipient in 2021.

“My mother was a teacher for 40 plus years and showed me the definition of empathic leadership. She has shaped me as an educator throughout my life, and I strive to lead like her each day,” she said.

In 2022, French-Collins was accepted in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) with Dr. Brittany Helmbrecht, who was recently named the Dean of Applied Sciences. Dr. Charles L. Welch, former chair of the AASCU Board of Directors and ELP coordinator, said the leaders in the class reflected the strength and value of the AASCU network. Welch served as CSC Commencement speaker in May 2025.

“Attending the Emerging Leaders Program motivated and inspired me to pursue an administrative leadership role. I think strategically and vision-minded and appreciate those types of conversations with other colleagues,” French-Collins said.

In Feb. 2022, French-Collins and two other CSC employees made a virtual presentation at the national Academic Chairpersons Conference. French-Collins outlined how the Communication Accommodation Theory developed by Howard Giles relates to verbal, non-verbal, upward, and downward communication specifically in academic leadership roles.

“With my background in communication studies, I think I am much more aware of the importance of clear and consistent communication, effective listening, and conflict resolution skills. This knowledge has helped shape my leadership style significantly,” she said.

French-Collins received her bachelor’s in public relations from Northwest Missouri State University in 2006. In 2009, she earned her master’s in speech communication from the University of Central Missouri, and attained a doctorate in communication studies from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2015.

Students work with international summer science program

CHADRON – Two Chadron State College pre-health professions students had a rare opportunity during an international camp for high school students on the CSC campus this summer.

CSC Associate Professor Dr. Mary Keithly, a faculty member for Summer Science Program International (SSPI) for several years, hired CSC students Piper Ryschon of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and Paige Boitz of Pueblo West, Colorado, as paid lab assistants during the xx-week camp at the Math Science Center of Innovative Learning.

Boitz said a typical day included class activities, lectures, and labs with the high school students.

“We were the busiest in the labs. We were expected to answer many questions about the project and help with math calculations and other tasks. Meals with the students were the best, as there was always a range of topics to talk about since they all came from different backgrounds. It was one of my favorite parts of each day,” Boitz said.

Ryschon helped make the chemical solutions for the experiments throughout the program. She also helped culture bacteria and extract the proteins from them.

“After the proteins were extracted, I helped purify the proteins with a low-pressure liquid chromatography (LPLC) system. I was also in charge of autoclaving media and biohazard waste,” Ryschon said.

Boitz said she helped with all experiments but specifically culturing bacteria, making solutions, and purifying proteins. The experience helped her learn the aspect of science that she enjoys most.

“I knew I liked being in a lab, but when failures and successes came from the students and I saw the joy their successes truly brought them, it was enlightening. I learned the skills to aid high school kids through one of the toughest programs in the country. I grew just as much as the students did just from helping them,” Boitz said. “The students’ excitement when an experiment worked reminded me of my love for science.” 

Ryschon said she learned valuable insights about lab experiments.

“This summer, I got to see firsthand how long some laboratory techniques take and the amount of critical thinking you need to combat obstacles that pop up during the experiment,” Ryschon said. “There will always be hard days when nothing goes right and you do a lot of problem-solving. It can be repetitive and aggravating. You even second-guess your ability to do science and whether you should even be in the field. But there are always good days where you love every second, and it makes everything worth it. Most days in the lab don’t even feel like a job, you just get to do what you love.”

Boitz said the experience solidified her decision to pursue a career as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.

“I knew throughout college that I wanted to end up in a lab, but not as much as I do now. It also introduced me to a world where women in STEM are capable of doing anything that they put their mind to,” Boitz said.

Ryschon said the faculty at the camp provided her with excellent input on her future career and graduate school options.

“One of the new professors I met provided me with great networking opportunities in the biotech industry, which I would have never received otherwise,” Ryschon said.

Ryschon said she enjoyed the students’ different outlooks on the world and science. She also enjoyed their fun-loving personalities. 

Boitz’s favorite moment was a trip to Chadron State Park on July 4.

“For some students, it was their first time in the U.S. for July Fourth, so it was fun for them to experience the outdoors and everything the park had to offer” Boitz said. “I connected quite quickly with the students from different countries and cultures because I was curious to learn about where they came from.”