Professor of English Jessica Isaacs has been named the new Dean of Instruction at Seminole State College, effective July 15, 2024.

Isaacs has worked full-time at Seminole State College for the past 22 years. She has served as the Division Chair of the Language Arts and Humanities Division and played a pivotal role in the college’s reaffirmation of accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in both 2020 and 2010.

“We have so many great opportunities for growth at SSC. As a senior faculty member in this new leadership role, I’m excited to share what I’ve learned, to support faculty any way I can and to help our students succeed,” Isaacs said.

As Dean of Instruction, Isaacs will oversee academic operations, assessment, student success initiatives and all areas of accreditation efforts. She will office on the west side of Tanner Hall.

As she begins her new position, Isaacs will be finalizing the fall semester’s schedule, completing reports for HLC and assisting academic divisions across campus.

“Our goal is to continue ensuring our curriculum serves the needs of our students, our communities and meets the standards of the State Regents,” Isaacs said.

Through her years at SSC, she has mentored many new faculty and helped guide them through the tenure process. She has served on the Assessment Committee, completed various Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education productivity reports, completed degree program evaluations and reviews, mentored many new full-time and adjunct faculty, served on curriculum committees and has led various professional development offerings.

“One of my primary goals is to explore new academic programs that align with the changing demands of the job industry,” Isaacs said.

In addition to her administrative and teaching responsibilities, Isaacs is an accomplished poet. She received the Oklahoma Book Award for Poetry in 2015 for her collection, “Deep August.” That same year, she was honored with a Citation of Recognition for Poetry from the State of Oklahoma. Isaacs has also served as the Director of the Howlers and Yawpers Creativity Symposium at SSC, and she is the founder and co-editor of the Dragon Poet Review. Her involvement in the literary community includes being a member and past Chair of the Woody Guthrie Poets Committee, and she regularly presents at readings and conferences across the state and region.

Isaacs completed her bachelor’s degree in literature at East Central University, a master’s degree in creative writing and playwriting at the University of Central Oklahoma and her Master of Fine Arts degree in poetry at Oklahoma City University.

She and her husband, Michael, reside in Prague. They have two children, Christopher and Laura.

“We are excited that Jessica Isaacs has been selected to serve as our new Dean of Instruction,” SSC President Lana Reynolds said. “Her extensive experience and dedication to education make her an excellent fit for this role.”