COE taps one of its own as associate dean-academic affairs

UF’s College of Education had to look no further than its own academic leadership team to find its next head of academic affairs.

After an internal, faculty-led search, Dean Catherine Emihovich has named Tom Dana as associate dean for academic affairs, the college’s penultimate executive post. Dana currently directs the college’s School of Teaching and Learning (STL).

His new appointment takes effect July 1 with the start of the 2007-08 academic year. Dana will succeed Jeri Benson, who recently announced her retirement. Dana and Benson will work closely between now and July to smooth the leadership transition.

Dana will continue to direct Teaching and Learning until assuming his new position. Details of the search for his replacement as STL director have not been finalized.

Emihovich said Dana’s proven leadership skills and experience suit him well for his new responsibilities as associate dean.

“Dr. Dana has served on the college’s NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) and FLDOE (Florida Department of Education) accreditation team since the last site visits in 2003,” Emihovich said. “With the next site visits occurring in 2009, Tom’s experience is sure to help us succeed in the current program review cycle.”

Dana is a self-described “technology and data geek”, which should come in handy while overseeing the college’s Instructional and Informational Technology Office—part of his new job description.

After arriving at UF from Penn State in 2003, he helped create a financial plan and the infrastructure for the college’s burgeoning distance education program, which Emihovich says “is allowing our college to meet the advanced degree needs of working education professionals.”

As head of academic affairs, Dana also will serve on the college’s and university’s curriculum committees.

“Recruiting, retaining, supporting and rewarding excellent faculty has been one of my highest priorities as director of the School of Teaching and Learning, and I will carry that philosophy over to my new position as we strive to maintain an intellectually stimulating College of Education,” Dana said.

While teaching at Penn State, from 1998-2003, Dana held an endowed professorship and coordinated teacher education at Penn State.  He has a doctorate in science education from Florida State University, and B.S. and master’s degrees in science from State University of New York-Oswego.