Dr. Cassandra Hill named dean of Suomi College of Arts & Sciences

Associate professor will also serve as interim dean of the International School of Art & Design

Finlandia University has hired Dr. Cassandra (Carlson) Hill as dean of Suomi College of Arts & Sciences and interim dean of the International School of Art & Design. Hill began her duties on July 1.

Before joining Finlandia, Hill ventured coast-to-coast, holding her first tenure-track position at Cal. Poly-San Luis Obispo in California, advancing to tenured professor and eventually associate chair of communication, media, & culture at Coastal Carolina University in Myrtle Beach, SC.

“I loved puzzles, problem-solving, and people for as long as I can remember. While my time on the tenure-track and as a tenured professor grew some of these skills, they were honed significantly during my last two years as associate chair for the largest academic department on my former campus. I look forward to bringing this experience and learning more from the Finlandia community during my time as Dean,” Hill said.

As a nontraditional student, Dr. Hill entered the field of communication after five years of working for the non-profit sector in Western Australia. Gaining a passion for communication during her time abroad, she returned to the U.S. to complete her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at California State University-Fullerton. She went on to earn her doctorate in communication science & quantitative methods from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing on interpersonal communication and social influence.

“From the very beginning, FinnU felt different,” Hill shared. “I’m excited to be in a place that fosters holistic student growth and development and the sense of community surrounding that mission here is palpable. It feels like a group of scholars (students, staff, and faculty alike) committed to mutual learning, understanding, respect and tenacity of purpose. At larger institutions it can be easy to get lost in the shuffle—even as an administrator and faculty member. Here, the focus remains the heart of academia: the people within its walls. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that in one of the most beautiful places in the country?”

You can find Dr. Hill hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, playing trivia, completing puzzles, reading, fossil-hunting, and traveling in her free time.

Dr. Cassandra Hill can be reached at Mannerheim Hall Room 411 or via email at cassandra.hill@finlandia.edu.

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Dr. Cassandra Hill
Suomi College of Arts & Sciences
International School of Art & Design