MURRAY – At the quarterly meeting of the Murray State University Board of Regents on Dec. 12, the university named Nicole Hand dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts and Dr. R. Heath Keller dean of the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business. Both had served as the interim dean of their respective colleges since Jan. 1, 2025.
Nicole Hand
In her role as dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, Hand will continue to oversee academic programs within the College of Humanities and Fine Arts that encompass the following departments:
- Art and Design
- English and Philosophy
- Global Languages and Theatre Arts
- History
- Music
- Political Science and Sociology
- Psychology
The college is a cultural hub for the campus and broader community, having hosted nearly 200 events this year that are free and open to the public and range from exhibitions, festivals and performances to films, lectures and reading series.
Hand earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Miami in 1999 before joining Murray State as an assistant professor in the art department in the fall of 1999. She served the College of Humanities and Fine Arts as assistant dean from 2018-23 and associate dean from 2023-24 before accepting the role of interim dean.
As professor, Hand teaches courses in several disciplines within the college, particularly in printmaking, as Murray State’s printmaking program has a rich tradition of success and recognition in the national printmaking community.
Her work has been featured in numerous regional, national and international exhibitions, while her mentorship has helped guide numerous artists.
A 2009 recipient of the Murray State Distinguished Researcher Award, Hand has served on a multitude of committees both within the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, as well as across Murray State, and has secured grants over the course of her professional career to advance scholarly research while championing student and faculty success.
Hand holds professional affiliations with organizations including the Mid America Print Council, Southern Graphics Council, College Arts Association and the Council of Colleges of Arts & Sciences. She served on the board for the Southern Graphics Print Council as Vice President of Outreach and Member at Large.
“The College of Humanities and Fine Arts is a vibrant, student-centered college, filled with excellent professors, skilled researchers, compassionate leaders, and dedicated staff,” said Hand. “The fine arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences are crucial areas of study for understanding the world, expressing that understanding creatively, and addressing its challenges with empathy, innovation, and critical thinking. I am excited to work collaboratively with faculty and staff to provide a quality education that equips students with the essential skills and knowledge they need to succeed, and to continue our community connections through our wide array of events and programming.”
Hand is married to Jim Bryant, Professor at Murray State. They have two children, Ella Bryant (20) and Colin Bryant (13).
Dr. R. Heath Keller
In his role as dean of the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business, Keller will continue to oversee academic programs within the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business, which is among only 5% of business schools globally accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AASCB).
The Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business provides excellent teaching and student learning opportunities, blending the range of educational opportunities often found at research institutions with the nurturing student-teacher interactions characteristic of smaller universities. Departments in the college include:
- Accounting
- Computer Science and Information Systems
- Economics and Finance
- Journalism and Mass Communications
- Management, Marketing and Business Administration
- Organizational Communication and Leadership
Keller holds professional affiliations with associations such as the Academy of Management, the Southern Management Association, Midwest Academy of Management, Educause and Beta Gamma Sigma.
“It is an honor and privilege to serve Murray State University as dean of the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business,” said Keller. I’m excited for the opportunity to represent, support and celebrate the great students, faculty and staff that make the Bauernfeind College of Business shine. It is my goal to foster the college’s strong legacy of excellence and scholarship as we work together toward the future.”
Keller earned his doctorate from Southern Illinois University in 2011. He began his faculty career at Murray State University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Management, Marketing and Business Administration. During his tenure at Murray State, he has progressed to his current rank of Professor. Keller also served as the Department Chair of Management, Marketing and Business Administration from Aug. 2017 until he accepted the role of Interim Dean. Keller earned the Regents Award for Teaching Excellence in 2016.
