University Communications and Marketing

June 18, 2014

Contacts:

Carmen Price, University Relations, 657-2269
Dr. Rita Kratky, City College, 247-3016

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — City College at Montana State University Billings has an interim dean, Provost Dr. Mark Pagano announced last week.

Dr. Rita Kratky will serve as dean on an interim basis, taking over for Dr. Marsha Riley, who announced on June 11 that she was stepping down from the position to pursue other professional opportunities. Kratky assumed the role Friday.

Pagano will launch a national search next month for the new City College dean. In the meantime, he will convene an advisory search committee comprised of faculty and administration.

Kratky has headed the two-year college’s Student Services since 2010 as its director of student services. In conjunction with the University Campus, she was instrumental in transitioning the Jacket Student Central—formally called the Student Affairs Office —into a one-stop shop model for students to access everything from financial aid assistance to academic advising.

She is also the two-year college’s associate registrar, responsible for coordinating aspects of course scheduling, registration processes, withdrawals and appeals.

“I am confident Dr. Kratky will carry forward the work of the college with the same combination of intelligence, enthusiasm, creativity and commitment to student success she has displayed in her four years as director of student services and associate registrar,” Pagano said. “We know she will do a superb job building on the successes of the past while helping to position the college for the future.”

Pagano said Kratky’s extensive engagement and dedication as an education professional with both two-year and four-year institutions, combined with her outstanding leadership of City College, make her uniquely well-prepared to guide the college through this period of transition.

“In addition to being a committed student advocate, Dr. Kratky brings substantial experience as an educator and administrator to the City College dean role at a time when the university is transitioning its programmatic model for academic prioritization to deal with an evolving strategic environment,” Pagano said. “She will help us reach across interdisciplinary boundaries and help tie our City College programs to the diverse needs of our community.”

Kratky started her career in higher education as an academic advisor and a graduate assistant at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., where she also received her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees. She also worked as an instructor and advisor for Front Range Community College at Larimer Campus in Fort Collins.

In 2006, MSU Billings hired Kratky as its director of advising and assistant registrar. Four years later, she transitioned to City College where she has since served as its director of student services and associate registrar.

In addition to these roles, Kratky has also instructed courses focused on academic success strategies and has been a guest presenter for topics in history of student affairs and the development of comprehensive community colleges.

In 2002, Kratky received the Outstanding Recognition Award by State Advisors Group from the Colorado Community Colleges.

She has served on numerous committees and has been a member of the MSU Billings and City College National Advisory Board since 2009.

Kratky said she is thrilled to fill the interim dean position and will work with the college’s faculty, staff and other leaders to ensure positive progress will continue following Dr. Riley’s leadership.

“City College is filled with talented, energetic students, faculty and staff,” Kratky said. “In this new role I will certainly continue to enjoy engaging with them, whether it be in or outside the classroom or in our many community involvement activities. I look forward to working with our City College faculty and staff who are also strongly committed to meeting the many opportunities that are on the horizon for City College as we move forward in reaching our goals and fulfilling our mission.

PHOTO ABOVE: Dr. Rita Kratky