FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas professor Tom Smith has been appointed interim dean of the College of Education and Health Professions.

Provost Sharon Gaber announced the appointment and said the university will re-initiate a national search for a permanent dean in the fall. Smith, who holds the university’s highest rank of University Professor, will serve in the post from Aug. 1 through June 30, 2010.

Reed Greenwood announced last fall that he would retire as dean this June 30. Greenwood will return to the faculty with an appointment in the college’s department of education reform. Greenwood’s career at the university has spanned 35 years, and he served as dean since 2001. He will postpone his move to the faculty until Smith begins his appointment in August.

Three candidates for the dean’s post visited the campus in May. Following discussion with faculty of the college, Gaber decided to name an interim dean and continue searching for a permanent dean.

“I am grateful to Tom Smith for taking on this important responsibility,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “He has the background and experience to guide the College of Education and Health Professions through this transitional period. Tom is highly respected by his peers and students and will provide excellent leadership to our academic programs.”

Smith formerly served as head of the college’s department of curriculum and instruction. He has also been associate dean of the College of Education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and chairman of the department of special education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“Dr. Smith brings to this interim post a proven record of leadership as an administrator and a national reputation as a professor in his field of special education,” Gaber said. “We are confident he will keep the college moving forward as we search for a new dean.”

Smith said he’s looking forward to working with the college’s faculty in his new role.

“I know many of them pretty well, having worked here for seven years,” he said. “I want to express my appreciation to Dean Greenwood for the work he has done to elevate this college. I think we can keep the momentum going.

“I would also like to thank the provost and the chancellor for their confidence in my moving the college forward during this transition period.”

The College of Education and Health Professions is composed of five academic departments with more than 100 faculty members, the university’s intramural and recreational sports department, and 13 research and service units. The college’s enrollment grew by 52.6 percent during Greenwood’s tenure, from 2,171 students in the fall of 2001 to 3,305 students in the fall of 2008. For fall 2008, enrollment was 2,272 undergraduates and 1,033 graduate students. The college has the third-largest enrollment on campus and the most graduate students.

The college has academic programs educating students in teaching, nursing, educational leadership, communication disorders, health science, kinesiology, recreation, human resource development, workforce development, educational technology, higher education, counselor education, education policy, educational statistics and rehabilitation counseling.

Smith holds a Doctor of Education from Texas Tech University and a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Education, both from the University of Mississippi. All of his degrees are in special education.

Smith has authored or co-authored 26 books, eight book chapters and 35 journal articles. He has made more than 200 presentations at national, regional and state professional meetings, and he has conducted workshops on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in more than 40 states. He has also authored grants funded at more than $1 million. In 1992, President Clinton appointed him to the President’s Committee on Mental Retardation; he was re-appointed for two additional terms. Since 1994, Smith has served as the executive director of the Division on Developmental Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children, a national, professional organization with more than 6,000 members.