Jeff Joines Promoted to Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Faculty Excellence and Student Success

The Wilson College of Textiles has a new associate dean for academic programs, faculty excellence and student success. Jeff Joines has served as the interim in this role since last fall, but as of July 1 has been officially promoted to permanent in this position.
A long-time Wolfpacker
Joines holds four degrees from NC State University, and has a passion for engaging with students. His path with the university started on the engineering side of campus where he graduated with a B.S. in both industrial and electrical engineering and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in industrial engineering. He began teaching engineering classes which is where his love for undergraduate education grew.
“I eventually transitioned into being the director of our textile engineering program, which looks at curriculum matters within our department and helps with recruitment,” Joines says. “In 2008, I was tapped to be the associate department head for undergraduate programs because I have a passion for undergraduate education.”
In 2017, he became the department head for the Wilson College’s Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science (TECS) where he has stayed until now. He notes that the past school year was quite busy serving as both the department head and interim associate dean for much of the fall semester and is looking forward to narrowing his focus and having a hand in both of the college’s academic departments.
“I can look at both departments and say ‘What are they doing very well? What can we do across the college? What is one department doing better than the other?’ I’m really excited about that piece of it,” Joines says.
He believes he is leaving the TECS department in good hands with Emiel DenHartog, who is stepping into the permanent department head role.
Plans for success
In his earlier roles at the university, Joines worked closely with undergraduate students in recruitment and teaching courses. His passion for teaching led him being awarded the Alumni Association Outstanding Teacher Award, the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Award and the Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching from the UNC System office. His main concern has been that as he moves upward in his career that he doesn’t become farther removed from the students, which is why he still plans to teach some courses even in his new position.
“’I’m hoping now that I don’t have to worry about department responsibilities, I’ll be able to focus on some other initiatives that I want to work on involving graduate student mentorship, recruiting for undergraduates and more teaching workshops – things like that,” Joines says.
“Jeff is one of the few faculty members at NC State who has earned the Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. His credibility in academia is unmatched in many ways. In addition, he can access many perspectives, constantly advocating for the college, whether as an alumni, a professor or a staff member. He embodies our Wilson for Life philosophy and our community’s core values of compassion, equity, collaboration, innovation and sustainability,” says David Hinks, dean of the Wilson College. “I’m excited to work with him as associate dean of academic programs, faculty excellence and student success. I know he will pour his heart into enabling the success of students and everyone in the Wilson College.”
Working with students is only one half of the job and working with faculty is equally as important.
“If I can help the faculty be successful, then the students, both the undergraduate and graduate, will be successful,” Joines says. “You can’t just focus on one, you really have to focus on both pieces. One of the things that I want to do is bring some teaching pedagogy workshops through the college that not everybody’s getting access to. I did one last spring on how to integrate AI [artificial intelligence] into the curriculum and it was really successful.”
Joines is excited to develop high impact experiences for all students in the college and make these opportunities available to every student regardless of socioeconomic status, which he says is made possible by the Wilson College’s small class sizes and close-knit community.
“I do not like teaching 200 students and not knowing everyone in the classroom. You get to know them,” Joines says. “I like that about the college, that it’s a family atmosphere – whether you’re a student, a staff member or a faculty member.”
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