Webster University Names Dr. Oren Yagil Special Assistant to the President

Oren Yagil, Ph.D., has been named special assistant to Webster University President Dr. Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble. In this position, Dr. Yagil will work with the President and the Provost as well as with all members of the Administrative Council to advance strategic initiatives important to Webster's future. He will join the University on August 1.

"Oren brings to this position a valuable international background, a commitment to strengthening Webster’s global academic excellence, and a demonstrated record of assuring student success," Dr. Stroble said. "This is a strategic position which we felt the need to fill for some time. It requires a very specific set of skills and Oren emerged as a match during our search for a University Secretary, which is ongoing. Oren’s special expertise in strategic areas of higher education administration make him an ideal choice to assist in executing projects in a collegial, team-based environment, and engaging with constituencies and partners locally and globally. Oren is a significant addition to our team as we continue to focus on achieving the goals of Webster's 20/20 Vision Strategic Plan."

Since 2009, Dr. Yagil has served as assistant dean for student affairs and assistant professor in the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha. In this position, he played a critical role in creating sustainable student-related policies and procedures. He served on the UNMC Steering Committee for "Online Worldwide," an initiative that required building cross-campus collaboration and cross-cultural platforms for students across Nebraska and around the world.

Prior to that, Dr. Yagil served as Academic Affairs Specialist at the newly founded College of Public Health and in several graduate assistant positions at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also served as head administrator in the Departments of Behavioral Sciences and Human Resources at Sapir College, an affiliate of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, in Beersheba, Israel. In these roles, he continually evaluated academic and student success procedures, policies and outcomes and developed and proposed improvements by encouraging conversation, generating ideas and innovative approaches.

Dr. Yagil holds doctoral and master's degrees in Educational Leadership and Higher Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a bachelor's degree in Geography and Environmental Sciences from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Yagil is a member of the American Educational Research Association and the Association for Institutional Research. He has experience with local, state, national and international agencies and governments.

"I am excited to join Webster University and contribute to driving critical issues and opportunities that will move the university toward achieving its vision of setting a distinct standard for global higher education," he said. "My commitment is to students and setting in place the policies and procedures that can most effectively enable them to become responsible global citizens."

With its home campus in St. Louis, Webster University is a worldwide institution committed to delivering high-quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence. Founded in 1915, Webster offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs through five schools and colleges, and a global network of campuses. Its 20,000-plus student population represents almost 150 nationalities.

Since opening its first campus overseas in Geneva in 1978, Webster has become a recognized leader and innovator in global education, with an international presence that now includes campuses in London; Vienna; Amsterdam and Leiden, the Netherlands; Shanghai, Shenzhen and Chengdu, China; and Bangkok and Cha-am, Thailand. Webster also has educational partnerships with universities in Mexico and Japan.

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