Charleston Southern University appoints new dean

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Charleston Southern University has named a new dean of the College of Health Sciences.

Having served as interim dean since January 2022, Gabby Poole previously served as the founding program director for the Physician Assistant Program, according to a Charleston Southern news release.

Poole shared her plan to build upon the work during her time as interim, noting opportunities for growth and expansion of the two undergraduate programs — kinesiology and public health — as well as the four graduate programs —physician assistant, physical therapy, clinical counseling and athletic training, the release stated.

“The undergraduate programs at Charleston Southern University are the heart of what we do and why we do what we do every day.” Poole said in the release. “Kinesiology and public health programs provide foundational support for our graduate programs while training students in both of these key areas to meet community needs.”

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 As for the popular, in-demand graduate programs, Poole said she’ll continue to provide the appropriate level of support to ensure the foundation of each program remains strong, the release stated. 

“We have been tremendously blessed to have established strong partnerships in and around the Charleston community to support all of our programs,” said Poole in the release. “My hope is that when our students go out into the community, they are a direct reflection of the mission and vision of CSU to the people who they have the opportunity to interact with and serve each day. I am excited for the opportunities we have within the College of Health Sciences to grow our current programs and to potentially add new programs that will allow CSU to continue educating students in a Christian environment.”

Before arriving at CSU in 2016, Poole was a physician assistant with the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina, according to the release. In addition, she served on the board of directors for the South Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants for seven years, including a two-year term as president.

“Dr. Gabby Poole is the perfect choice to serve as our inaugural dean of the College of Health Sciences,” President Dondi Costin said in the release. “Having served in the trenches to launch our highly effective Physician Assistant Program as its founding director, Gabby understands program development, accreditation, compliance, CSU culture, and visionary leadership like nobody else. We are blessed to have a highly experienced leader of her caliber in such a key position on our team.”

After graduating from Wofford College in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in biology, Poole went on to earn her master’s of physician assistant studies from MUSC in 2009. In 2020, she received her Ph.D of medical science in physician assistant education with an additional certificate in healthcare administration and management from the University of Lynchburg.