French-Collins named Dean of Business, Mathematics, and Science

“I’m very excited to be back in the School of BMS and in the deanship role. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with the talented students, faculty, and staff in these fantastic departments,” said French-Collins, who served as interim dean of Business, Mathematics, and Science from 2022-23.

French-Collins said the best insight she gained as interim dean was to remain student-focused and colleague-focused.

“I will continue to ask, when making decisions, ‘Is this decision best for our students? Our faculty, and our staff?’” she said.

French-Collins began her teaching career at CSC in 2011 and has sponsored several successful events, including The Big Event. Most recently, French-Collins was a Professor of Communication Arts and Department Chair, as well as CSC’s Teaching Excellence Award recipient in 2021.

“My mother was a teacher for 40 plus years and showed me the definition of empathic leadership. She has shaped me as an educator throughout my life, and I strive to lead like her each day,” she said.

In 2022, French-Collins was accepted in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) with Dr. Brittany Helmbrecht, who was recently named the Dean of Applied Sciences. Dr. Charles L. Welch, former chair of the AASCU Board of Directors and ELP coordinator, said the leaders in the class reflected the strength and value of the AASCU network. Welch served as CSC Commencement speaker in May 2025.

“Attending the Emerging Leaders Program motivated and inspired me to pursue an administrative leadership role. I think strategically and vision-minded and appreciate those types of conversations with other colleagues,” French-Collins said.

In Feb. 2022, French-Collins and two other CSC employees made a virtual presentation at the national Academic Chairpersons Conference. French-Collins outlined how the Communication Accommodation Theory developed by Howard Giles relates to verbal, non-verbal, upward, and downward communication specifically in academic leadership roles.

“With my background in communication studies, I think I am much more aware of the importance of clear and consistent communication, effective listening, and conflict resolution skills. This knowledge has helped shape my leadership style significantly,” she said.

French-Collins received her bachelor’s in public relations from Northwest Missouri State University in 2006. In 2009, she earned her master’s in speech communication from the University of Central Missouri, and attained a doctorate in communication studies from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2015.