UNIVERSITY NAMES DEAN OF EDUCATION

Shirley Stennis-Williams, dean of education at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, has been named the dean of the College of Education at Southeast Missouri State University.

Southeast's Board of Regents approved the hiring in closed session Thursday. Stennis-Williams will begin her new duties June 15 at a salary of $72,000, university officials said.

She was chosen from among 50 applicants, four of whom were invited to the campus for extensive interviews, school officials said.

The hiring ends a more-than-a-year-long search for a new dean to replace Lenore Bierbaum. Bierbaum had planned to step down last July but agreed to stay on until a new dean could be hired.

"Dr. Stennis-Williams has a lot of experience in higher education and experience as a sitting chair of education at a comparable institution with a comparable mission," said Sheila Caskey, dean of Southeast's School of Graduate Studies and Extended Learning. Caskey headed the search committee.

"We are pleased to find someone with such a rich administrative background," said Provost Charles Kupchella.

"Dr. Stennis-Williams was the only finalist who had served as a dean. She also has a broad view that will make her a good university citizen as a whole. We are looking forward to having her here."

Stennis-Williams has served as dean of education at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania since 1991. She served as senior academic planner at the University of Wisconsin system administration academic affairs office from 1985 to 1991. Stennis-Williams was involved in the acquisition of more than $3 million in grants in the University of Wisconsin system and is involved, at a leadership level, in the American Association for Higher Education.

Prior to her tenure with the University of Wisconsin system, she served for 19 years at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. During her tenure there, she held a number of different posts, including director of the school's Headstart program and coordinator of urban experiences in student teaching.

She holds a doctoral degree in curriculum and teacher education and a master of administration degree in elementary education, both from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University.