PIQUA — Two new deans have joined the staff at Edison State Community College.
Following an extensive search, Dr. Paul Heintz Jr. has been hired as dean of Arts and Sciences and Dr. Tony Human will be the dean of Professional and Technical Programs. They join the college’s academic leadership team. The Edison State Community College Board of Trustees made the announcement during the June board meeting, and the two officially began as deans in July 2017.
Heintz, who most recently served as interim vice president of Academic Affairs, first experienced Edison State as a student. Since then, Heintz has spent 16 years sharing his passion for knowledge as an instructor and professor of psychology to students at Wright State University, Wittenberg University and Edison State Community College where he has taught since 2005.
“From the beginning, I wanted to look beyond my position and truly understand the larger picture of Edison State,” said Heintz.
“During their first year, most faculty members focus almost exclusively on teaching and are typically not required to advise students or take an active role in committees. My first year, in addition to teaching, I advised a number of students and served on eight standing committees. My philosophy is that the more we understand and are involved with Edison State’s operations, the more effective we become.”
Over the last decade, Heintz has participated in a significant number of search and ad hoc committees, 44 standing committees, and positions such as Academic Senate Chair and Edison State Education Association President.
“Edison State has always been tightly woven into the fabric of our community,” said Heintz. “The overall health of our institution depends on the interconnection of stakeholders, students, faculty, and administration. My evolution from a non-traditional Edison State student, to instructor, professor, and Interim Vice President, allows me to clearly grasp the many facets of life at Edison State.”
Upon receiving an associate degree from Edison State, Heintz attended Wright State University, where he earned an undergraduate degree, along with a master’s degree, and a doctorate of psychology degree.
As dean of Arts and Sciences, Heintz will be responsible to the provost for the operational and strategic leadership of the Arts and Sciences academic division, which includes the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science transfer degrees. Heintz will also be the lead administrator for the academic functions of the College Credit Plus program.
“Now I am excited and privileged to have the opportunity to continue my commitment to serving our employees, our students, and our community as Edison State’s Dean of Arts and Sciences. In this role, I will increase our interaction with the community through academic initiatives and public service events that allow the community to become involved and understand the opportunities that Edison State provides.”
Heintz lives with his wife Robin in Sidney. Together they have two sons, Paul III and Ian. Robin and Paul III are also graduates of Edison State, while Ian has taken numerous classes.
Human will join Edison State’s academic leadership team with a comprehensive skill set garnered during a 20-year career with the United States Air Force (USAF). Most recently serving as director of Contingency Operations for the USAF, Human taught local Combat Training Lessons and instructed online certification courses, while managing the creation of a forward operating base simulator mock-up.
Human also spent time as a dean of faculty, dean of students, dean of administration, and professor of construction for the USAF. In this role, Human was responsible for directing student administrative activities, leading the school’s administrative activities, developing curriculum, and conducting validation and teaching over 800 students.
“Leading the Professional and Technical division will be a lot like leading the Technical Training school for the military,” said Human. “The processes and paperwork have different names and procedures, but the final product is the same. Classes need to be staffed, budgets need to be balanced, purchases need to be approved, evaluations need to be completed, and above all else, faculty and student needs must be met.”
As dean of Professional and Technical Programs, Human will be responsible to the provost for the operational oversight and strategic leadership of the Professional and Technical Academic Division, which includes business, criminal justice, early childhood education, information technology, manufacturing and engineering technology, medical lab technology, nursing, phlebotomy, physical therapist assistant, social services, and tech prep.
“I want the Professional and Technical division to be the premier educational facility in the world, but for now I will settle for Ohio,” said Human. “We should never settle for the status quo or stay where we are comfortable; stepping outside of our comfort zone and into unfamiliar terrain forces coping. Coping gives rise to solutions. Solutions are reached through innovation. Innovation leads to the future. I believe Edison State is the innovation of the future.”
Human holds two associate degrees from the Community College of the Air Force in Alabama, a bachelor’s degree from Excelsior University in New York, a master’s degree from Ashford University in Iowa, and a doctorate in education from Capella University in Minnesota.
“I am very excited to be part of the Edison State family,” added Human.
Human is relocating to the area from the Atlus Air Force Base in Oklahoma with his wife Terri and teenage sons, Garrett and Austin.
