After one failed search, Marywood University has finally found the new dean for the Reap College of Education and Human Development.
Dr. Terri Peters, from Monmouth University in New Jersey, will be the new dean, effective July 1.
A search committee conducted the first search during the 2012-2013 academic year and did not find a candidate who had the qualifications they were looking for. As a result, Dr. Alan Levine, vice president for academic affairs (VPAA), filled in as dean temporarily while maintaining his role as VPAA.
According to Collier B. Parker, dean of the Insalaco College of Creative and Performing Arts, the search for a new dean is typically a year-long process. They began the second search in August 2013.
Parker, who served as chair of both searches, originally selected the committee members in 2012. The committee consisted of three members of the Reap College, including Dr. Patricia Arter, Dr. Edward Crawley, and Dr. Andrea Marie Novak. Dr. Kathy Ruthkosky was also asked to be a part of the committee.
The committee also had an “at large” member, Dr. Lori Swanchak. The committee put together an advertisement, which was placed in the Chronicle of Higher Education, among other places.
Levine said that Peters will be coming to Marywood with a three-year contract, and the rank of tenured, full professor.
“If a person has a tenure at another institution, we can offer them tenure if the department in which they have expertise in approves and makes a recommendation to the committee, who also makes the recommendation to me as Vice President,” said Levine.
“She really had a strong scholarship background. She published a great deal, had strong leadership experience, and when she was on campus, it was evident that she would be a great fit [here],” said Parker.
Levine added that Peters has served as an associate dean at Monmouth as well as coordinator of The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) for the school of education at Monmouth. She has been a program coordinator, evaluator, and chair of the department of education and special education. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the State University of New York in Albany.
“She is someone who has shown being exemplary in both teaching, scholarship, and service. Those are the three legs that faculty sit on here at Marywood, ” said Levine.
