BIERBAUM WILL RETIRE AS DEAN OF EDUCATION AT SOUTHEAST IN 1993

Lenore Bierbaum, who has served as dean of the College of Education since 1988, plans to step down next summer.

Bierbaum said Tuesday that she is resigning as dean, effective July 31.

She and her sister have purchased a home in St. Louis County. Bierbaum said she has been looking forward to retirement.

But Bierbaum said she plans to keep some working ties with Southeast. "I will be doing some liaison work (for Southeast) with some of the community colleges up there."

In particular, she said, she will focus on education courses offered at Jefferson College at Hillsboro through a cooperative venture with Southeast.

"This is better than retirement," she said.

Bierbaum has been a member of the education faculty at Southeast for 28 years. She began teaching at Southeast in 1962, long before there was a College of Education. She later left for three years before resuming her career at Southeast.

Bierbaum was named acting dean in 1988 and later became the permanent dean of the College of Education.

During her tenure as dean, the college has gone through major accreditation reviews and completely redesigned the teacher education curriculum.

"I really felt when I came to the office that I had some things I wanted to accomplish," said Bierbaum.

She said one of her goals was to direct the implementation of a redesigned teacher education curriculum, which she had earlier helped draw up. Bierbaum said she also felt she had some expertise in the areas of national accreditation.

Southeast's teacher education program has been recognized nationally as one of the nation's top programs.

Bierbaum said she's pleased these goals have been realized.

"We are in good shape and the new person can build the next agenda for the next several years," she said.

The university has already begun its search for a new dean. Bierbaum said she expects a new dean to be in place by the time she steps down late next summer.