Barrios resigns as Southeast dean of liberal arts

After 10 years at Southeast Missouri State University, Frank Barrios announced his resignation as dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

The announcement came during the annual COLA Recognition Ceremony, held for outstanding students, on Tuesday at the University Center.

He was named dean in 2008, after leaving a position as chair of the Department of Psychology at Texas State University. Since then, Barrios has provided academic, administrative and budgetary leadership to the College of Liberal Arts.

In 2011, Barrios was named Executive of the Year from the Girardot Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals for his work with the college. The award, given only to office professionals with approximately 28,000 members and affiliates or less, was given to Barrios during the IAAP annual Executive Recognition Banquet in October.

Barrios said he will be pursuing an "equally exciting opportunity" in the St. Louis area.

Barrios thanked the department chairs of the past and present, whom he said have the hardest jobs, and acknowledged his administrative assistant Carol Kitchen.

"She keeps us all honest," Barrios said.

He also recognized associate dean Rhonda Weller-Stilson, with whom he said he's "had a great run."

Barrios credits the university restructuring as an opportunity to move onto other things.

"It's been a pleasure serving Southeast for the past 10 years," he said.