Douglas Stein, PhD, provost and executive vice president at Cleary University, is pleased to announce that Professor Kelly Genei was named Dean of Undergraduate Studies for the university in Summer 2024. Genei is responsible for advancing the excellence and quality of Cleary’s undergraduate programs and activities.
She works closely with key academic, student affairs and operational staff to support the success of the university’s undergraduate student body and instill the attributes of The Cleary Mind™. Genei supports, supervises and evaluates day-to-day undergraduate classroom operations, communications and instructional processes to promote and improve consistency and quality of instruction. She assists in the academic guidance and advising of undergraduate students, monitors undergraduate academic progress, and leads and implements academic university initiatives to improve student and faculty success. She also leads the development of new and existing academic curriculum initiatives, including those related to AI and academic assessment.
The Dean of Undergraduate Studies reports to Dr. Douglas Stein, Provost and Executive Vice President.
“When selecting the right candidate for Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Cleary was looking for a dynamic leader with innovative vision and drive for accomplishment; one who has
demonstrated a successful record of championing a strong, vibrant and relevant undergraduate educational experience,” says Dr. Stein. “We found all of this and more in Professor Genei, as she has provided with her leadership of key undergraduate initiatives since hitting the ground running.”
Genei joined Cleary University in 2019 as a member of the adjunct faculty and a DECA advisor. One year later, she became an associate professor. That same year, she received the Vince Linder Teaching Excellence Award, a student and staff selected honor named after Dr. Vince Linder who served as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Cleary for more than 25 years. This award is given to a faculty member who maintains a culture of excellence and cares deeply about helping students succeed.
Genei received her BBA from Northwood University in Midland, where she triple-majored in advertising, marketing and management; and minored in economics and language arts. She earned her MBA in Business from the Devos Graduate School of Management at Northwood University’s international partner school in Montreux, Switzerland. She is working on her PhD in Business, with a focus in entrepreneurship, from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In addition, Genei completed certifications in People Analytics, Operations Analytics and Customer Analytics – all from Wharton University of Pennsylvania. She obtained a Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma Green Belt Certification in 2012 from the University of Michigan.
“I am honored to be selected for this role in the community where I was raised, continuing to serve our students, the mission of Cleary, and our entire community,” Genei says. “As it did for me, a business education can help students develop technical knowledge, and practice the interpersonal skills necessary to be an asset as future leaders.
“One of our strongest and most valuable resources at Cleary is our faculty. They are experts in their field and bring that experience into the classroom. I, too, was a small business owner with a love for education and appreciation for the professors who contributed to my success,” she explains. “I am looking forward to working alongside every member of the academic team at Cleary to further develop an instructional system that provides a student-centered experience.”
“What makes Cleary special is our faculty, advisors, coaches, and staff – everyone working cohesively to guide our students to lifelong success.”
Genei grew up in Hartland, graduated from Hartland High School, and resides in Brighton. She serves on the City of Brighton’s Zoning Board of Appeals, and for enjoyment, she races with an adult ski league, and camps and hikes with her dog.
She began her new role at Cleary on Monday, June 17, 2024.
