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Announces Appointments in Academic Affairs

February 04, 2015 by: Trident University Categories:

February 3, 2015 – Cypress, CA – Trident University International (Trident) is happy to announce two new interim appointments in Academic Affairs, effective January 2015:

Dr. Heidi Fernandez will be the Interim Masters of Arts in Education (MAED) Program Director, replacing Dr. Deborah Schreiber. Dr. Fernandez earned her Ed.D. at the University of Florida in Gainesville, specializing in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Educational Technology. She most recently served as General Education/Math Faculty Lead, and will report to Dr. Holly Orozco, Dean of the College of Education.

Dr. Fernandez has experience as an online student, earning her master’s degree at Walden University.

Dr. Mina Richards has been appointed the Interim Assessment Director, replacing Dr. Elna van Heerden. Dr. Richards, who will continue to support the College of Information Systems, has recently led Trident’s academic assessment efforts as co-chairperson of the Assessment Committee. Dr. Richards earned her Ph.D. in Information Systems Sciences at Nova Southeastern University, and has been a faculty member at Trident since 2009.

Additionally, Dr. Bernice Rumala has been appointed Program Director for Trident’s Ph.D. in Health Sciences program. Dr. Rumala holds a Ph.D. with a focus in health equity from Columbia University in New York. Prior to Trident, she was the Interim Research Director at Mentoring in Medicine in New York.

Dr. Rumala replaces outgoing Program Director Dr. Frank Gomez, who will serve as a professor in the College of Health Sciences and will continue to work with doctoral students in the College of Health Sciences.

All three report to Dr. Holly Orozco, Dean of the Colleges of Health Science and Education and Vice Provost for Institutional Effectiveness.

The 100% online Trident is accredited by the Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

About Trident University 
Founded in 1998, Trident University International (Trident) is a leading online post-secondary university serving adult learners. Trident developed the Trident Learning Model, which employs case-based learning in an online setting to teach real-world relevant critical thinking skills to enhance student’s lives and careers. Trident offers high-quality bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs, led by a qualified faculty team, over 80% of whom have doctoral degrees. Visit www.trident.edu, Trident’s Facebook page, or call at 800-579-3197 to learn more about Trident’s wide range of program offerings.