Westminster University announced today that Dr. Alicia Cunningham-Bryant has been named to Interim Dean of the Honors College. A longtime faculty member in the nationally-recognized Honors College and the current Kim T. Adamson Chair, Dr. Cunningham-Bryant assumed her new role on July 1, upon the departure of Dr. Richard Badenhausen.
An award-winning teacher in the Honors College, Dr. Cunningham-Bryant most recently served as Director of Westminster’s nationally-recognized Office of Fellowship Advising, supporting students in finding fellowship opportunities in research, studying abroad, and graduate funding.
“Dr. Cunningham-Bryant is a visionary leader with a history of great achievements across multiple high-impact programs at Westminster. Her empowering student-centered approach to teaching, and her commitment to honors education are a testament to what she will build as the next Dean of the Honors College,” said Dr. Debbie Tahmassebi, Provost of Westminster University. “I look forward to seeing her carry the Honors College legacy forward, and I know she will excel in this elevated role.”
“The Honors College is a home for academic inquiry and experimentation, and I’m thrilled to be asked to lead it into the future,” said Dr. Cunningham-Bryant.
Westminster’s Honors College–one of only 2 in Utah–provides a distinctive course of study for intellectually prepared students who want to challenge themselves within a supportive environment. Around 200 Honors students receive hands-on leadership training, guided mentoring, and experiential learning from study abroad opportunities, in addition to the small class sizes that every Westminster student enjoys.
In her new role, Dr. Cunningham Bryant will focus on several immediate priorities for the Honors College:
- In Fall 2026, the Honors College will launch a City as Text study away program grounded in the methodology of the National Collegiate Honors Council, expanding Westminster's ongoing investment in place-based learning.
- Relaunching the Alumni Mentorship Program in the Honors College, to connect current students with successful Honors alumni across career fields for mentorship and coaching opportunities.
Dr. Cunningham-Bryant holds a PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Yale University, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, San Diego. Her extensive background includes work as an archivist and curator at museums in Philadelphia and New Haven, alongside archaeological fieldwork in Egypt and Jordan. These experiences, coupled with her wide-ranging research interests spanning public history to ancient religions, enrich her teaching, where she creates courses that bridge the ancient and modern.
In addition to her elevated role, Dr. Cunningham-Bryant will retain her position as the Kim T. Adamson Chair of the Honors College.
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