Kate Mamiseishvili, associate professor of higher education at the University of Arkansas, has been appointed head of the department of rehabilitation, human resources and communication disorders in the College of Education and Health Professions, announced Dean Tom Smith.

The appointment is effective April 1.

Mamiseishvili became interim head of the department at the beginning of the fall semester. She took the position when Fran Hagstrom, an associate professor of communication disorders, was promoted from department head to assistant dean for health professions in the college.

“Dr. Mamiseishvili has proven to be an effective leader since taking over the role of interim department head,” Smith said. “She joined our faculty in 2008 and quickly established herself as a productive member of the higher education faculty with a strong record in teaching, research and service. We are fortunate that she also is a natural leader. The department of rehabilitation, human resources and communication disorders offers graduate and undergraduate programs that are very important in our effort to provide advanced degrees to practitioners in several fields.”

The department is made up of the academic programs of adult and lifelong learning, communication disorders, counselor education, higher education, rehabilitation education and research, educational statistics and research methods, and human resource and workforce development.

“I am honored to be given the opportunity to work with faculty who are dedicated to the University of Arkansas and the leadership team who is visionary and supportive,” Mamiseishvili said. “Every day in our department, faculty and staff work hard to provide the best quality education to their students and make people’s lives better through improving their health and education all around Arkansas and beyond. It is exciting and energizing to be part of this team of exceptional professionals who make the difference with their work every day.”

Mamiseishvili earned a doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis in 2008 from the University of Missouri. She also earned a master’s degree from Missouri and her bachelor’s degree from Akaki Tsereteli State University in the Republic of Georgia.

Her research examines the work roles and productivity of foreign-born faculty in the United States. She won the college’s rising STAR award for the outstanding all-around new faculty member in 2010. Two years later, she won the college’s STAR award given to the outstanding all-around faculty member. STAR stands for service, teaching, advising and research.