About the Office

As a national leader in health science education, Paula M. Crone, DO has dedicated much of her career to the success of her students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Crone’s passion for her profession and the patients it serves firmly positioned her for success in her role as Provost for Western University of Health Sciences. In addition, she serves as the Vice President for WesternU Oregon, providing executive leadership for the growth and expansion of Western University of Health Sciences’ Oregon campus and colleges. In her previous role as Dean for the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) in Pomona, CA, and the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMP-Northwest) in Lebanon, Oregon, her legacy as a dynamic and innovative dean of one of the largest medical schools in the nation garnered her executive positions on national platforms in medical and graduate education, healthcare policy, provider shortage strategy, mental health, and substance abuse.

As an alum of COMP herself, Dr. Crone has dedicated her career to the success of the university and its future healthcare professionals. Her leadership was integral to the founding of COMP-Northwest, serving as Founding Site Dean from its inception until 2013, when she was instated as Dean of COMP and COMP-Northwest and Vice President of the Oregon campus. Dr. Crone was the program director for the Family Medicine residency at Eastmoreland Hospital in Portland, Oregon and the founding DO of a multi-physician primary care clinic in Portland, Oregon prior to joining WesternU in full-time academic leadership. Dr. Crone completed her residency in Family Medicine at Eastmoreland Hospital in Portland, Oregon.

Dr. Bradley Henson received his DDS and PhD degrees from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. As a dentist-scientist, his approach to teaching, research and practice has always focused on bridging the biomedical sciences with the clinical sciences. His primary research interests are in the areas of head and neck cancer cell signaling and cancer drug discovery. Dr. Henson is also passionate about promoting oral and overall health in indigenous communities, with special interests in reducing the burden of cancer and diabetes, promoting food sovereignty and pre-colonization diets, and reclaiming traditional healing practices.

The WesternU Deans Council seats all eight deans in collaborative process to guide the future of health sciences education. The interdisciplinary health science leaders who serve our eight colleges as deans symbolize the inclusive and collaborative culture of WesternU. The power of our Deans Council stems from the diverse professions and perspectives of these individuals. Working in unison, they provide governance in support of the university and all of its colleges, as well as the generations of health professionals under their wings.

Karoline Almanzar was named Library Director of the Harriet K. & Philip Pumerantz Library in 2019, previously holding the position of Associate Director of Access Services. She graduated from San Jose State University with a master’s degree in Library and Information Science and is currently enrolled in University of La Verne’s Organizational Leadership doctoral program. With over twenty years of experience as part of the WesternU family, she works with her team to support educational excellence for the WesternU community.

Scott began his new role as the Vice Provost of Enrollment Management (VPEM) on February 3, 2025. In this position, he leads the enrollment management teams on both the Pomona and Lebanon campuses. He brings over two decades of experience in higher education including the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Chapman University, and most recently, California College of the Arts, where he served as the Senior Vice President of Enrollment Management and Auxiliary Services.

Following a brief career in the film and television industry, Jonathan has overseen the development of innovative distance learning and online education at multiple institutions since 1998. He joined WesternU in 2018, and since then has worked with a number of colleges to create media-rich and interactive instruction within online courses for academic programs and continuing education. His talented team supports multiple online learning technologies, and together their goal is to deliver a high quality, modern, engaging teaching and learning environment for students and faculty. Jonathan earned a BA in Film & Video Production from The Pennsylvania State University and an MEd in Educational Leadership from Concordia University — Portland.

Di joined WesternU in 2015 after 32 years in corporate and clinical healthcare leadership. She currently serves as the Vice Provost, Strategy, Growth and Transformation for Western University Health Sciences and provides executive leadership for growth initiatives, leadership development, program expansion and business development. Prior to joining WesternU, she was Vice President of Strategy, Innovation and Development for PeaceHealth’s corporate office in Vancouver, WA. She earned her clinical degrees in medical imaging sciences at University of Nebraska Medical School and Oregon Institute of Technology and completed her Doctor of Health Science degree in 2023. Di currently serves on multiple regional and national boards including the inaugural American Board for Artificial Intelligence in Radiology.

Rick has been with WesternU since 2009 when he joined the Office of Recruitment in University Student Affairs serving as a Recruiter and later Assistant Director. Shortly after in 2010, he joined the founding team for the build out and launch of the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMP-Northwest) where he served as the Senior Director of Operations for over a decade. Rick was named Assistant Vice President for the WesternU Oregon campus where he provides leadership and service to the Lebanon-based programs. In 2022, he joined the Office of the Provost as Executive Director for Academic and Financial Affairs and provides oversight on financial and resource management as well as various operational functions. In addition, Rick also serves as a Deputy Title IX Coordinator for the University. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Business Management from Oregon State University. Prior to joining WesternU, Rick worked as an administrator in college athletics and recreation at Oregon State University and the University of California, Davis.

Originally a biochemist/molecular biologist, Mirabelle joined WesternU in 2014. Since then she has served as a Deputy Title IX coordinator. Mirabelle has also served, led and consulted on many teams at the college, state, university and national level, including accreditation teams, AACOM Council of Diversity and Equity, and the WesternU Humanism-Strategic Planning group (H-SPG). Mirabelle is published in a range of topics, including molecular biology, medical anthropology, and DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion). She currently serves the WesternU Oregon campus as Vice President of University Student Affairs.

Elizabeth provides leadership for several signature WesternU programs that engage culturally diverse populations in health science professions and holds oversight of strategic academic processes that further faculty advancement and recognition. As an acclaimed paleontologist and archaeologist specializing in human and nonhuman primate anatomy, she is an expert consultant to both the animation and gaming industries. Working with Walt Disney Feature Animation and SONY Pictures, she routinely consults on racially accurate anatomy and locomotion, as well as racial morphology and history of ethnic depictions in animation, most recently collaborating on the construction and design of President Obama’s audio-animatronic for Disney World Hall of Presidents. As a dedicated research scientist, she has published numerous scientific articles, conducted fieldwork on three different continents, and presents internationally on her areas of expertise. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology and German from Valparaiso University and her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in Biological Anthropology.

Dean serves as the Associate Provost for Ventures, providing oversight of University affiliations, management of intellectual property and facilitation of faculty innovation and commercialization. Contributing decades of academic leadership at WesternU, Dr. Smylie merits expertise in curricular evolution, technical expansion and scientific advancement that further clinical education and university partnerships.

Tim is an alumnus of the WesternU MSPA class of 2002 and has been teaching at WesternU since 2007.

Tim is a physician assistant by clinical training and has been teaching in the College of Health Sciences since 2007. He continues to teach in the Department of Physician Assistant Education as an Associate Professor after having held the position of academic coordinator before taking on university-wide duties for faculty development. He completed his doctorate in the foundations of education/teaching and learning and continues to pursue his research interests of student learning styles, as well as the use of technology in the classroom to improve learning outcomes.