Jack MacLennan Appointed to New Roles at Park University

August 2, 2024 — Jack MacLennan, Ph.D., has been appointed to the role of senior director for strategic initiatives and communications, and special assistant to the president for governance. MacLennan began his new duties on Aug. 1.

In this position, MacLennan will support key stakeholders in the development, communication and implementation of plans for the future of Park University. As senior director for strategic initiatives and communications, MacLennan will lead the University’s strategic communications efforts and support Park’s strategic planning process. In his role as special assistant to the president for governance, MacLennan will work closely with faculty and staff leaders, serving as chair of the University Commission on Shared Governance. In addition, he will be the primary contact for Park’s Vision 2025 People and Culture Strategic Impact Group, which is addressing objectives of fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, communicating with clarity and transparency, and cultivating employee satisfaction and engagement.

MacLennan, who also holds the title of associate professor of political science, previously served the University as the graduate program director for the national security studies program for the past five years after joining Park in 2017. During the 2022-23 academic year, he also served as the special assistant to the provost for academic programs. MacLennan also served as Park’s Faculty Senate president from 2020-2022 and as its vice president from 2019-20.

In April, MacLennan was recognized by Park University with the Dusing-Proudfoot Award, which is given to honor outstanding contributions by a Park faculty or staff member. In 2020, he received the President’s Award for Teaching Excellence, which recognizes full-time faculty members who exemplify excellence in teaching, as nominated by peers, students and staff.

A native of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, MacLennan earned a doctorate degree in political science from Carleton University (Ottawa, Ontario); a Master of Arts degree in political science from the University of Windsor (Ontario); a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Michigan – Dearborn; and a Bachelor of Arts with honors in political science from St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick.