Lake Erie College brings in new faculty members

Painesville’s Lake Erie College is already preparing for next school year with a pair of recent hirings.

Following a national search, Jennifer Kinniard has been selected as the college’s next dean of the School of Business. She will be succeeding Robert Trebar who died in October.

Kinniard is a Kansas native who served as a department chair of business at Bethany College with over 17 years of teaching experience, according to an Lake Erie College news release. She holds master’s degrees in both Business Administration and Human Resource Management. She also holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Management from Capella University.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to join the Lake Erie College family and to be a part of an organization that is poised for many great things,” Kinniard said. “I look forward to working with the many wonderful, caring and skilled individuals at LEC to continue moving the college in its progressive and positive direction.”

“Dr. Kinniard has a wide range of experiences in higher education and in a variety of roles,” said Chief Academic Officer Bryan DePoy. “I am confident that her leadership skills and extensive academic and professional background will propel our already outstanding business programs into a new era of innovation and success.”

Lake Erie College has also created the new faculty position of director of musical ensembles for the incoming Mark Alpizar. He will also serve as assistant director of music.

Alpizar will start with the college in August as part of the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Alpizar was the resident conductor for the American Youth Symphony and has served as an assistant conductor for the Arizona State University Orchestra and Chicago’s Lyric Opera Theatre.

He expressed an eagerness “to join the enthusiastic faculty and staff to create high-caliber performance experiences that will be available to the entire campus community.”

LEC President Brian Posler shared this excitement, adding, “(Alpizar’s) role is an essential piece of our strategic offerings to enhance student life and advance the music arts offerings at Lake Erie College.”

Alpizar