Leadership changes at Goshen College-Sarasota

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Goshen College-Sarasota has tapped Patricia Brown as its new director.

Brown, who began serving as interim director of Goshen College-Sarasota a year ago after two years as lead professor, is sensitive to the special needs and gifts of adult learners. She received a master's degree in adult education from the University of South Florida and has taken doctoral courses at Walden University as a working adult student. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Eckerd College's Program for Experienced Learners. She has held various leadership posts in women's groups such as the National Association of Women Business Owners and the West Michigan Women Executives group. Brown operated a service business in Michigan for 11 years.

"Patricia is an able leader who will bring new ideas and energy to the Sarasota center," said Vice President of Institutional Advancement Andrea Cook. "She understands the needs of adult learners and she will ensure the academic programs are of high quality and that they accommodate needs of adult learners to balance their education with the life responsibilities."

Levonda Dahlin has been appointed as assistant director of admissions and marketing for Goshen College-Sarasota. She will be primarily responsible for recruitment and admissions of adult working students, and all marketing aspects for Goshen College-Sarasota.

Dahlin has 13-plus years of marketing experience, having worked in the retirement living, insurance, medical, hotel and manufacturing industries. She worked for nearly nine years as the director for outreach services and assistant director of telehealth services for Wake Forest University Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. Dahlin has a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Brown said, "Levonda brings to Goshen College not only a wealth of marketing experience but also a warm, positive personality."

"Levonda brings excellent skills related to communication, networking and serving the needs of people," Cook said. "Students will find her to be a great resource for information and support as they seek information about Goshen's program that offers the opportunity for them to achieve their goal of completing their college degree."

Goshen College began its Sarasota program in March 1998. Today the college is located on Southgate Circle in Sarasota and also offers courses in North Port, Fla. Goshen College in Florida offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership. In May 2003, the first class graduated with 19 students receiving degrees.

Goshen College-Sarasota offers working adults the opportunity to take degree completion classes one night per week, with a program lasting only 18 months. Students stay with the same group of fellow learners for the entire program and classes are guaranteed to run, in sequence and on schedule. For more information about Goshen College-Sarasota and its programs, call (941) 906-8883 or visit the Web site at http://www.goshen-sarasota.edu/.

Editors: For more information, contact News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.


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