Phillips Named Interim Dean of Education

Professor Susan D. Phillips has accepted the position of interim dean of the School of Education, effective March 1. Her appointment is based on a recommendation from Provost Carlos E. Santiago, following consultation with the school�s senior faculty.

Phillips received her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Columbia University in 1979. She brings to this assignment more than 20 years� experience as a faculty member and administrator at the University at Albany. She has been a full professor since 1997, and chair of the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology since 1998. She is the recipient of both the University�s and the Chancellor�s Awards for Excellence in Teaching. Professor Phillips recently completed a six-year term working with program consultation and accreditation at the American Psychological Association, and was just selected to be an ACE Fellow for the upcoming year, an opportunity she will postpone to serve as interim dean. As a core member of the school�s leadership group, she is thoroughly familiar with the school�s operation and with the challenges and opportunities that need to be engaged immediately and in the near future.

President Karen R. Hitchcock said: �We are very fortunate to have an individual like Dr. Phillips to turn to in such a moment. Both Provost Santiago and I look forward to working with her to sustain and advance the school�s many fine programs and initiatives. We will commence the necessary preliminary consultations for organizing and launching a search for the next dean later this semester.

�This appointment follows, sadly, the sudden and very unexpected death of Dean Ralph Harbison. All of us at the University remain in deep shock over Ralph�s death. Everyone remembers him with tremendous admiration, affection, and respect. I am particularly impressed with how deeply he touched so many lives during his very short time with us.�

There will be a memorial event sometime in April.