From the Dean: New Associate Dean

I am pleased to announce that Allison Nealy, clinical professor in the Department of Communication Science and Special Education, will serve as an associate dean, effective August 1.

As a result of the vacancy in the Office of Faculty and Staff Services, we have reconfigured duties across associate dean offices. Graduate Education will move to Academic Programs (led by senior associate dean Stacey Neuharth-Pritchett). Scott Ardoin will retain responsibility for research and will add responsibility for personnel matters for tenure-track faculty. Allison Nealy will assume responsibility for personnel matters for career-track faculty and staff. These changes were vetted by department heads and staff in the Office of Faculty and Staff Services. We will assess the effectiveness of this model in the spring of 2027 to determine if changes are needed. Official titles for the offices led by Nealy and Ardoin are to be determined.

Dr. Nealy brings a wealth of experience with personnel matters, having served for six years as a department head and one year as an associate department head. She also adds the critical perspective of career-track faculty to the Cabinet, a perspective that has been missing the last few years. I look forward to working with her in the year ahead.

Denise A. Spangler
Dean