Bemidji State University announces that Dr. Marci Maple and Dr. Travis Ricks have been hired into interim positions as academic deans of the university’s College of Sciences and Health and the Sunderman College of Creativity, Enterprise and Place, respectively.
“I am genuinely excited to welcome Dr. Maple and Dr. Ricks to the academic affairs leadership team,” said Dr. Marah Jacobson, BSU’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. “I am confident they will provide steady, principled leadership and advance our shared commitment to students, faculty, staff and the broader Bemidji State University community.”
Both bring extensive experience serving as members of the university’s faculty into their new administrative roles. Maple is in her 16th year as a member of BSU’s nursing faculty, while Ricks has been a member of its psychology faculty for 11 years.
Maple and Ricks will serve in these interim administrative roles through August 2027. Both say they are honored to have been selected for the leadership roles.
Maple said she looks forward to collaborating with and supporting faculty, staff and students in this role.
“I’m honored to step into the interim dean role for the College of Sciences and Health,” Maple said. “I am committed to strengthening community partnerships that expand applied and experiential learning, enhance philanthropic opportunities and promote financial sustainability and systemwide effectiveness. Together, we will advance our shared mission of academic excellence, innovation and partnership.”
Ricks also looks ahead to new opportunities to collaborate in the interim dean role.
“I’m looking forward to supporting our faculty and students,” he said. “I’m also excited about strengthening opportunities for our academic programs to collaborate and to provide resources and support for academic innovation. I want BSU to build on its strengths and continue to create opportunities for our students to live inspired lives.”
About Dr. Marci Maple
Dr. Marci Maple joined Bemidji State’s faculty in 2010 and is now a tenured professor of nursing. Maple’s work reflects her commitment to the university’s mission and student success.
Before entering academia, Maple worked 13 years as a nurse and nurse practitioner at MeritCare/Sanford Health in Bemidji, bringing hands-on experience to her teaching and leadership.
Previous leadership roles at Bemidji State include senior nursing administrator and chair of the Department of Nursing. She has led program development, accreditation, faculty advancement and philanthropic efforts to support scholarships, program growth and strategic priorities.
She is a scholar with the Global Academy of Holistic Nursing and also served as co-president of the Minnesota Association of Colleges of Nursing and as president of the Society for Advancement of Modeling and Role-Modeling, an international nursing theory society.
She also served as the invited academic partner for the Sanford Enterprise Nurse Residency Program and helped that program earn initial accreditation. She also serves on the boards of Scenic Rivers Health Services and Bemidji’s Village of Hope.
Maple is a Bemidji State University alumna who earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing from the College of St. Scholastica.
About Dr. Travis Ricks
Dr. Travis Ricks, professor of psychology, joined the BSU faculty in 2014 after holding a variety of post-doctoral teaching and research positions to begin his academic career.
At BSU, Ricks has mentored many undergraduate students and helped develop “We Are Listening,” a campus-wide survey system that helps leaders make data-informed decisions to improve the student experience. He has also built assessment systems that support student success and campus improvement.
For four years Ricks has served as the university’s core curriculum director, leading efforts to strengthen general education through campus collaboration. His work focuses on academic innovation and sustainable assessment practices based on student learning outcomes and strong faculty involvement.
For the last eight years, Ricks has served as director of BSU’s annual Student Achievement Conference, an event that celebrates student research, creativity and achievement.
Ricks has helped foster community and school spirit through involvement in BSU’s Bucky Forever Fund and by coaching the university’s mascot program.
Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family and staying active in the Bemidji community.
Ricks earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Idaho State University and his doctorate in cognitive psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago.