Dione Somerville grew up in Michigan, but spent most of her higher-education career in Ohio. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English/writing from Ohio Northern University, a master’s degree in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University and a doctorate in higher education from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Before coming to Iowa State, Somerville served as director of student affairs and services at Ohio College of Podiatic Medicine, director of student activities and assistant director of campus programming at Ursuline College and director of enrollment services and registrar at Lorain County Community College. 

Somerville has served as dean of students at Iowa State since January 2007. She will leave Iowa State June 30 to take her new position as vice president of student affairs at Bloomsburg University.