Meet the Leaders of MBU’s Transformative Academic Neighborhoods

With the upcoming launch of MBU’s academic Neighborhoods as part of the Mary Baldwin Signature undergraduate living and learning experience, the university is proud to introduce the inaugural Neighborhood leaders. 

MBU’s Neighborhood leaders are faculty members who have been appointed to envision programmatic, skill-building, and experiential learning opportunities in addition to mentoring students in each Neighborhood. The academic Neighborhoods, Business & Technology, Health & Science, Creativity & Design, and Education & Society promise an immersive and holistic approach to each area of study.

While three of these Neighborhoods are preparing to launch in the fall of 2025 (along with their respective Houses), the Health & Science Neighborhood, led by Dr. Paul Deeble, associate dean and director of the school of science and professor of biology, began operating its Health Sciences House as a pilot program in August 2024. 

Together, as members of the Health Sciences House, students have already collaborated on health science projects, taken tours at the Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences, and been treated to guest lectures and workshops by healthcare practitioners and patients. Starting in the 2025–26 academic year, all undergraduate freshmen can expect to share similar experiences in their Neighborhoods and Houses.

The Inaugural Neighborhood Leaders

Prof. Clayton Smith — Business & Technology

The Business & Technology Neighborhood prepares students for future careers in a fast-changing world, with majors in business, marketing, and mathematics.

Professor Clayton Smith, a leading faculty member in MBU’s business marketing department, is known for integrating real-world experiences into the classroom. Smith has built connections with local businesses and industry leaders to ensure students have access to internships, mentorship opportunities, and cutting-edge technology. His vision for the Neighborhood includes cultivating entrepreneurial thinking and equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in a tech-driven global economy.

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Dr. Kerry Cooke — Creativity & Design

The Creativity & Design Neighborhood seeks to inspire innovation through majors in English and professional writing, and theatre and performance.

Dr. Kerry Cook, associate dean and director of the school of visual and performing arts, has a history of fostering creativity in her students and helping them connect their work to the broader community, both on campus and beyond. Under her leadership, the Creativity and Design Neighborhood will encourage students to think beyond traditional classroom boundaries, collaborate across mediums, and showcase their talents through campus exhibitions, performances, and workshops.

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Dr. Mary Clay Thomas — Education & Society

The Education & Society Neighborhood is composed of majors in Applied Behavior Analysis & autism studies, criminal justice, education, history, liberal arts and interdisciplinary studies, psychology, public policy, and social work.

Dr. Mary Clay Thomas, associate dean and director of the school of professional studies, has been teaching social work at MBU for more than 15 years and is set to lead this Neighborhood. Thomas is well-prepared to guide students in an interdisciplinary course of study; for years, social work students under Thomas’ direction have collaborated with criminal justice students to great success.

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Dr. Paul Deeble — Health & Science

The Health & Science Neighborhood centers on fostering an environment where students can explore majors in biology, clinical laboratory science, exercise science, and health sciences.

Dr. Paul Deeble brings years of leadership and research expertise to this role. Known for his ability to connect classroom theory to real-world applications, Deeble has been instrumental in launching the pilot Health Sciences House, which is up and running for the 2024–25 school year. Students under his guidance have worked on interdisciplinary health science projects, visited top-notch facilities at the Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences, and gained insights from professionals across the healthcare spectrum.

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The launch of Mary Baldwin University’s academic Neighborhoods grows the university’s commitment to fostering immersive, interdisciplinary learning experiences. By integrating academic excellence with real-world application, each Neighborhood promises to offer students unique opportunities to connect their studies to their passions, career aspirations, and community impact. 


Interested in learning more about the Mary Baldwin Signature and MBU’s new Neighborhoods? Visit marybaldwin.edu/signature!