Dr. Frances Kochan, dean of the College of Education, announces the appointment of several new members of the college's leadership team—including two new associate deans—with the start of the fall 2007 semester.

Dr. Daniel Clay is the college's new associate dean for administration, research and innovative programs.  He comes to Auburn from Western Illinois University's College of Education and Human Services, where he was the associate dean of academic affairs.  Clay holds a doctorate from the University of Missouri in counseling psychology.  This new position comes as a result of restructuring and a placing a greater emphasis on entrepreneurial development.

Dr. Susan Villaume has been appointed as associate dean for academic affairs and certification officer, a position she held on an interim basis since May 2005 after Dr. Robert Rowsey's retirement.  During her time as interim associate dean, she successfully led the college's 2007 National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) reaccreditation efforts. Villaume received her doctorate from The Ohio State University, concentrating her studies in reading, language arts and children's literature.  She has served on the AU faculty since 1998.

Dr. Nancy Barry returns to the Department of Curriculum and Teaching, this time as department head—a vacancy also resulting from Weaver's retirement.  She previously served on the AU faculty from 1990 to 2000. During Barry's hiatus, she served as professor, graduate coordinator and chair of music education at the University of Oklahoma from 2000 to 2007.  She earned master's and doctorate degrees in music education, and certificates in electronic music and computers in music, from The Florida State University.

Dr. Mary Rudisill is head of the Department of Kinesiology and a Wayne T. Smith distinguished professor. She served as acting department head since 2003, after Dr. Dennis Wilson stepped down as department head after 21 years. World-renowned for her motor development research, Rudisill earned her doctorate in movement science education from The Florida State University in 1985 and was named a distinguished professor in 2004.  She has served on the AU faculty since 1996.

In addition to these appointments, the college welcomes seven new faculty members this semester: in Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology: Sherida Downer, coordinator of the Educational Media and Technology Program; Dr. Tim Havard, assistant professor; Dr. Daniel Henry, assistant professor; Dr. Jung Won Hur, assistant professor; and Dr. Ellen Reames, assistant professor; and in Kinesiology, Dr. Leah Robinson, assistant professor; and Dr. Joellen Sefton, assistant professor.

For background on all of the college's recent appointments, visit the college's Faculty and Staff Spotlights.  Leadership and faculty appointments from 2006-07 and 2007-08 are highlighted in a recent publication [  2.6MB] produced by the college.