Contact: Robbie Ward
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A Mississippi State English professor is the new dean of the university's College of Arts and Science.
Gary Myers's appointment formally was approved earlier this month by the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning
A member of the MSU faculty since 1989, Myers served as associate dean for four years before being appointed interim dean in July 2007. He replaces Phillip Oldham, who accepted a university administrative position in another state.
Myers earlier served as director of freshman English for six years, coordinating the required course for all graduates. A University of Houston doctoral graduate, his poems have appeared in the New Yorker, Poetry and Kansas Quarterly, among other publications.
The largest and among MSU's fastest growing academic units, the College of Arts and Sciences enrolls nearly a quarter of all students. Additionally, it is responsible for teaching most of the core curriculum courses required of all freshmen.
Peter Rabideau, MSU provost and vice president for academic affairs, said Myers has displayed the many management abilities necessary for the challenging position of dean.
"Dr. Myers has performed in exemplary fashion as interim and became our top candidate in a national search," Rabideau said. "I'm very pleased to have him join what I consider a strong cadre of deans at MSU."
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, contact Dr. Rabideau at 662-325-3742. Also, Dr. Myers may be reached at 662-325-2646 or gmyers@deanas.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.