Five Candidates to Interview on Campus for Dean of College of Education and Health Professions

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Five candidates for the position of dean of the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas have been selected by the search committee for a campus interview.

The candidates will each make a public presentation during their visit on the topic “Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities in Higher Education and Health Professions.” All presentations will be held in the Graduate Education Auditorium, Graduate Education Building, Room 166, on the University of Arkansas campus. A reception will follow each presentation. The public is welcome to attend the presentations and receptions.

Ben Johnson, associate dean for community partnerships and global initiatives at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, will be on campus Friday, Nov. 20, and will give his presentation to the campus community at 3 p.m. Faculty, students, and staff may meet with him briefly and informally at 4:30 at RZs coffee house. Johnson has a doctorate from the University of Kentucky and additional degrees from East Carolina University and the University of North Carolina. Johnson’s field is biomechanics. His background includes previous positions at Georgia State University, liaison to the International Olympic Committee Medical Commission and co-chair of the committee for biomechanics for the Olympic games in Atlanta, and interim director for Sports Medicines, Science and Technology. PDF of curriculum vitae for Ben Johnson.

Thomas Smith, currently interim dean of the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas, will be interviewed on Monday, Nov. 30, and will give his presentation at 3 p.m. Faculty, students, and staff may also meet with him briefly and informally at 4:30 at the Peabody Perks coffee house. Smith has a Doctorate of Education from Texas Tech University and has held faculty positions at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and the University of Arkansas. He has focused on pediatrics and special education, including learning disabilities and mental retardation. PDF of curriculum vitae for Thomas Smith.

Michael Poliakoff will be on campus Wednesday, Dec. 2, and will give his presentation at 3:15 p.m. Faculty, students, and staff may meet with him briefly before the presentation in the reception area outside of the Grad Ed Auditorium from 2:30 to 3:00. Poliakoff holds a doctorate from the University of Michigan. He most recently held the position of vice president for academic affairs and research at the University of Colorado System. His background also includes positions at the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Council on Teacher Quality, and the American Academy of Liberal Education, among other educational positions. PDF of curriculum vitae for Michael Poliakoff.

Michelle Young, executive director of the University Council for Educational Administration and associate professor at the University of Texas, Austin, will visit the campus on Thursday, Dec. 3, and will give her presentation at 3:30 p.m. Faculty, students, and staff may meet with her briefly and informally at 4:45 at the Peabody Perks coffee house. Young earned her doctorate from the University of Texas, Austin. She has also held positions at the University of Missouri-Columbia and the University of Iowa. Her career has focused on the service spectrum of education, educational leadership, policy and practice. PDF of curriculum vitae for Michelle Young.

Daniel Clay, associate dean for administration, research and innovative programs in the College of Education and interim associate department head of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology at Auburn University, will be on campus for an interview on Monday, Dec. 7, and will give his presentation at 3 p.m. Faculty, students, and staff may meet with him briefly and informally from 1:45 to 2:30 at the Peabody Perks coffee house. Clay received his doctorate at the University of Missouri and has additional educational experience at the University of Michigan School of Medicine and Harvard University. With a background in educational and counseling psychology, he has held positions at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine, the University of Iowa, Michigan State University, Western Illinois University and Auburn University. PDF of curriculum vitae for Daniel Clay.

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. Enrollment for the fall semester was 3,628 students, including 2,468 undergraduate students and 1,160 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.