ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA - Kimarie Whetstone, Winthrop’s director of Online Learning, has been named the interim dean of the School of Graduate, Continuing, and Online Education (SGCO), beginning Feb. 16, 2025.
Whetstone will serve as interim dean through June 30, 2025 while a national search for the permanent dean is conducted. Beth Costner, dean of the Richard W. Riley College of Education, Sport and Human Sciences, will chair the search committee. Candidates may apply for the position through Feb. 7, 2025 for full consideration.
Provost Sebastian van Delden said that Whetstone has a deep understanding of the school, making her an excellent choice to serve during this transition phase. “I could not think of a better, more qualified person to lead the school during this critical moment in our history,” van Delden said. “We are fortunate to have an experienced and universally well-liked colleague in Kimarie step up for this interim role. She brings a great wealth of experience, and I am so thankful in her willingness to serve Winthrop in this capacity.”
She will replace Dean Jack DeRochi who has accepted the position of provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. DeRochi’s recent accomplishments include conceptualizing and launching Winthrop Elevate, launching the competency-based education version of Winthrop’s Bachelor of Professional Studies program, leading a new partnership agreement with RisePoint, codifying the SGCO by-laws, and telling our Winthrop story to community and industry leaders.
Whetstone has been the director of online learning and an assistant professor of educational technology at Winthrop since 2014. Prior to this appointment, she served Winthrop as the online learning coordinator from 2010-14.
Before joining Winthrop, she held multiple positions at Montreat College in Charlotte, North Carolina. She holds a B.S.B.A. in management information systems, an M.Ed. in instructional systems technology from the University of North Carolina Charlotte, as well as a Ph.D. in education from Capella University, specializing in instructional design of online leaning.
Candidates can apply for the permanent dean’s position through Winthrop’s online portal HERE.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at longshawj@winthrop.edu.
