Board of Trustees awards tenure to six faculty members

Six Cincinnati State faculty members were awarded tenure by a unanimous vote of the College Board of Trustees at the January 28, 2025, Board meeting.

Provost Robbin Hoopes said all of the newly-tenured faculty demonstrated “high standards for teaching and course design” and are “gifted in engaging and inspiring their students.” He noted that all have significant professional experience in their field, and four members of the tenure class are Cincinnati State alumni.

Trustee Chairperson John Silverman described the awarding of tenure as a “highlight” of Board activity and commended the faculty members for their contributions to the College.

The newly-tenured faculty members are:

Sheena Davis, Nursing (Health & Public Safety)

• Sheena is the lead instructor for Nursing 202, a course that prepares students to enter the field and successfully pass the required credentialing exam for nursing. She modified the curriculum for some nursing courses to meet new accreditation requirements and collaborated with colleagues to develop a new lab component for the Nursing 101 course.
• She has 15 years of clinical and patient care experience as a Registered Nurse for adult and pediatric clients, with pulmonary/cardiac focus.  
• Sheena serves on several divisional and College-wide committees, including the Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee and Academic Technology Committee, and is a member of Faculty Senate.
• Sheena earned an associate degree in Nursing at Cincinnati State. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ohio University and a Master of Science in Nursing from Xavier University.

Zane Decker, Program Chair, Mechanical Engineering Technology (Engineering & Information Technologies)

• Zane created and developed a new course in additive and advanced manufacturing techniques, enhanced the quality and scope of several MET courses, including the Capstone course, and integrated new manufacturing technologies and equipment into the MET program.
• He collaborated in obtaining grants valued at $1 million to provide new equipment, and he developed and maintains the MET machine shop.
• Zane founded and serves as advisor for the student Baja Racing Team, which has competed successfully in events with engineering students from national and international universities.
• Zane earned two Cincinnati State associate degrees, in Mechanical Engineering Technology-Design and Mechanical Engineering Technology-Manufacturing. He earned a Bachelor of Science at Northern Kentucky University in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Technology, and a Master of Engineering from the University of Cincinnati.

Dr. Gregory Kelly, Civil Engineering Technology & Program Chair, Welding (Engineering & Information Technologies) 

• Greg revised and updated eight courses in the CET Construction Management curriculum, including incorporating experiential opportunities into some courses, as well as serving as program chair for the Welding associate degree and certificate programs.
• He is the author of a construction management textbook that has been adopted by several universities, and he serves as an accreditor for the American Council for Construction Education.
• Greg has served on several College committees including the Budget Advisory Team, and is the faculty advisor for the student chapter of the National Association of Home Builders.
• Greg earned an associate degree in Civil Engineering Technology-Construction Management from Cincinnati State. He has a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Northern Kentucky University, an MBA from Mt. St. Joseph University, and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Northern Kentucky University.

Deborah Shumate, Surgical Technology (Health & Public Safety)

• Deb created an online course in Sterile Processing for those seeking knowledge of the field or preparing for a certification exam, and she integrated certification exam preparation into two Surgical Technology seminar classes. She also added new clinical sites to the ST program.
• She is a Certified Surgical Technologist with extensive professional experience, including in managerial roles.
• Deb is the faculty advisor for the student Scrub Club and serves on College committees including serving as co-chair of the Scholarship Committee.
• Deb earned an associate degree in Surgical Technology from Ivy Tech Community College and a Bachelor of Technical Applied Studies from the University of Cincinnati.

Dr. JoAnne Worthington-Groseclose, Nursing (Health & Public Safety)

• JoAnne is the lead instructor for the Nursing 101 course, and she collaborated with colleagues to develop a lab component for the course to better prepare students for the rigor of other courses in the associate degree Nursing program. She also created in-person and online versions of a new Community Health course for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program.
• She has 30 years of nursing experience in direct patient care, including 17 years in acute oncology care.
• JoAnne serves on several College committee, including serving as chair of the Sabbatical Review Board, and she is a member of the Cincinnati State Speaker’s Bureau. She also serves as Faculty Lead for the associate degree Nursing Advisory Board.
• JoAnne earned an associate degree in Nursing from Cincinnati State. She earned additional degrees at Mt. St. Joseph University including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Science in Nursing, and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice.

Grace Yek, Program Chair, Culinary & Food Science (Business)

• Grace designed and implemented the curriculum for the Culinary and Food Science bachelor’s degree program, including designing food science labs, securing industry partnerships for experiential education, and integrating insights from industry into the program curriculum.
• Grace has a range of industry experience including culinary production and food manufacturing, and has connected national and local culinary and food experts to the College through in-person events and social media outreach.
• Grace serves on several College committees including the Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee, and is a member of the Cincinnati State Speaker’s Bureau. She has organized and participated in press conferences, fundraisers, and other events to promote the CFS program and the Midwest Culinary Institute.
• Grace has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. She is also certified as a Chef de Cuisine by the American Culinary Federation.

Background: How tenure is achieved

To be eligible for tenure, a Cincinnati State faculty member must complete five years of full-time service.

Then, eligible faculty members complete a five-month review process. During that time their qualifications and contributions to the College are examined by the Faculty Tenure Committee, the division Dean, the Provost, and the President. The Board’s vote is the final step in the review process.

The process steps leading to tenure are defined in the AAUP contract, which states that tenure is awarded in recognition of “demonstrated excellence and consistent contributions” to the College.

Following the award of tenure, a faculty member may use the title “Professor.”