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Mission

The College of Applied and Technical Studies supports the development of personal, professional and technical expertise by providing a comprehensive portfolio of certificate and degree programs that empower graduates. As an educational and economic driver for Northeast Ohio and beyond, the College strives to provide life-changing learning opportunities. The college supports individuality and embraces diversity by welcoming learners from varying life and career stages into a collaborative, respectful and equitable community of educators and students.

Vision

The College of Applied and Technical Studies will be the premier choice for individuals seeking university education focused on the discovery and development of high skill and specialty occupations and careers. Successful learners will be prepared to enter and remain competitive in regional, national, and global markets.

CATS ADMINISTRATION

 
Peggy Shadduck, Ph.D.

Vice President for Regional Campuses
Dean of the College of Applied and Technical Studies
mshaddu1@kent.edu

Vice President Shadduck serves as the senior officer responsible for overall leadership of the Â鶹ӰԺ Regional Campus system. She oversees the operations of the seven Regional Campuses and the College of Applied and Technical Studies, promotes student enrollment and academic success, and is responsible for expanding the visibility, influence and effectiveness of Â鶹ӰԺ State as a catalyst for regional development. She joined Â鶹ӰԺ State in April 2021.

A career educator, Dr. Shadduck has devoted herself to improving student learning experiences in higher education for more than 25 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College with majors in mathematics and East Asian Studies. After a short stint as an actuary, she went to graduate school, earning a master’s degree in neuroscience from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. in pharmacology from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. During that time, Dr. Shadduck learned that she has a passion for teaching and launched her teaching career with a group of biology students at a local community college.

During her 12 years at Transylvania University in Â鶹ӰԺucky, Dr. Shadduck taught and developed more than 20 different courses, with several crossing disciplines boundaries. She was asked to handle some administrative responsibilities after several years at Transylvania University, so she pursued a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Illinois at Springfield to complement her science background. That led to additional leadership positions in public two-year institutions, including serving as the chief academic officer at Shelton State Community College in Alabama. Dr. Shadduck has served as associate dean of New College at the University of North Texas since 2018 and as faculty and unit director of New College since 2017. 

Susan Emens, Ph.D.

Associate Dean
College of Applied and Technical Studies
emens@kent.edu

Associate Dean Emens has devoted her career in higher education to serving the local communities of regional campus systems. Prior to joining the CATS administrative team, she served as the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs at Â鶹ӰԺ’s Geauga Campus and Twinsburg Academic Center. She is a tenured associate professor for the Business Management Technology program in the College of Applied and Technical Studies and has taught at the Trumbull Campus.

Dr. Emens holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Trident University International; a Master of Arts in Economics and an MBA from Â鶹ӰԺ; and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Youngstown State University. Her research interests include nonprofit marketing and the strategic engagement of community partners in higher education.