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Dr. MaryTheresa Seig

Biography

MaryTheresa Seig, PhD, is an experienced academic leader currently serving as a Dean with responsibility for academic strategy, faculty development, student success initiatives, and cross‑institutional partnerships. Her work has focused on aligning academic programs with institutional mission and regional needs, advancing faculty excellence, and leading complex organizational change through collaborative governance. She has extensive experience in international and distributed education, workforce‑aligned program design, and partnerships with community, state, and Tribal organizations. Dr. Seig’s leadership emphasizes stewardship, inclusion, and the integration of academic priorities in support of student achievement and institutional vitality.

Dr. Alvin Malesky

Biography

Dr. Alvin Malesky is a full professor at Western Carolina University (WCU), where he previously served for nine years as Head of the Psychology Department. He currently serves as the Liberal Studies Assessment Director. Dr. Malesky is a licensed psychologist in both North Carolina and Virginia.

His current research interest deals with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and academic integrity in higher education. He has authored or coauthored 24 peer-reviewed journal articles and four book chapters, presented at numerous national and international conferences and has appeared as a guest expert on television news programs.

Dr. Malesky has received numerous teaching honors, including the Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching, the highest teaching award in the UNC System. In addition, Dr. Malesky has completed extensive leadership training and is currently a participant in the University of North Carolina System’s Executive Leadership Institute.

Dr. Malesky earned his B.A. in Psychology from George Mason University, his M.S. in Counseling from The University of Southern Mississippi, and his Ph.D. from The University of Memphis. He completed his doctoral internship at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, North Carolina, and a postdoctoral fellowship in forensic psychology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Malesky also earned an MBA from WCU in 2016. 

Ms. Carrie Baker

Biography

Carrie Baker currently serves as Interim Dean of UAF's College of Liberal Arts, after serving as CLA Associate Dean from 2021-2025 and as Professor of Theatre & Film from 2005-2025. As chair of CLA’s Theatre & Film Department for nearly a decade, she taught performance courses and directed productions for Theatre & Film UAF. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and Screen Actors Guild, with professional acting credits in stage, television, and film. Carrie holds a B.A. in Theatre and English from Middlebury College and an M.F.A. in Acting from the University of California, Irvine.