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The Farmer School of Business is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Chelsia Potts as the new director of the Passport, Ryan Family Scholars, and Grainger Scholars programs. With more than a decade of experience in higher education, Potts brings a wealth of knowledge and a strong commitment to improving outcomes for first-generation ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs and marginalized groups.

Potts joins the Farmer School from ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ, where she served as the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Education. There, she established the Office of Exploratory Studies, which supports ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs exploring majors, those conditionally admitted to the university, and high school ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs taking college courses. Her work at ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ has been characterized by a commitment to proactive communication, collaboration, and the creation of environments where ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs feel empowered to navigate their educational journeys successfully.

Prior to her role at ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ, Potts was the Dean of Student Development & Enrollment at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City. She leveraged her collaboration skills and intervention strategies to support a diverse ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ population, resulting in a significant increase in ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ retention. Additionally, as the Academic Coordinator of TRIO-Student Support Services at Avila University, Dr. Potts led initiatives that significantly improved ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ retention and graduation rates.

Potts has also worked with the Partnership for Regional Education-Kansas City (PREP-KC), where she managed career academies in collaboration with high schools, colleges, universities, and industry partners to improve college and career outcomes for economically disadvantaged ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs.

In her new role, Potts will oversee the development and delivery of the Farmer School of Business’s donor-funded programs aimed at attracting, retaining, and graduating diverse ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs. She will work closely with department chairs, the Dean’s staff, and other key stakeholders to support high school recruitment initiatives, develop strategies for recruiting ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs into the Passport, Ryan Family Scholars, Grainger Scholars, and Hughes Family Scholarship programs, and create programs to support the retention and graduation of these scholars.

Potts’s collaborative leadership style, her ability to foster meaningful partnerships, and her dedication to ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ development make her an excellent fit for this role. She is excited to bring her experience and passion for ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ success to the Farmer School of Business.

"We are thrilled to have Dr. Potts join our team. Her extensive experience and commitment to supporting first-generation and underrepresented ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs will be invaluable as we continue to enhance our programs and support our ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs," said Jenny Darroch, dean of the Farmer School of Business and Mitchell P. Rales Chair in Business Leadership.