College Leadership

The Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions includes an impressive set of renowned faculty, talented staff and committed students who work in concert with community partners to build more vibrant, healthy communities. We are reinventing public service education through hands-on service learning. We serve a mission-driven student body who do not wait to graduate until they make a difference. Our four schools and more than 20 research centers are creating and implementing innovative solutions to real-world problems. Our team of experienced leaders approaches this important vision with a sense of pride and urgency, recognizing the responsibility we have accepted to join with our community partners to be a part of the solution!

Cynthia Lietz

Dean

Cynthia Lietz

Interim Dean

Megha Budruk

Associate Dean 

Chandra Crudup

Associate Dean

Christopher Hiryak

Assistant Dean 

Joanna Lucio

Senior Associate Dean

Kelly Bricker

Associate Dean 

Janet Mullen

Chief Operating Officer

Cindy Parnell

Chief of Public Service

William Terrill

Associate Dean 

School directors

Christine Buzinde

School Director

School of Community Resources and Development

Beth Huebner

School Director and Professor

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Elizabeth Lightfoot

School Director

School of Social Work

Shannon Portillo

School Director and Professor

School of Public Affairs