New Mexico State University is moving forward with a national search to find the inaugural dean of the its new College of Health, Education and Social Transformation.
NMSU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Carol Parker recently announced that Enrico Pontelli, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, will chair a committee to assist with identifying qualified candidates. The committee’s first steps will be to seat and charge a search committee and to begin recruiting.
Parker has asked for input from students, faculty and staff in the current College of Health and Social Services, College of Education and the Department of Sociology, which will be merged effective July 1 to create the new college. Candidate nominations can be submitted at the search website https://webcomm.nmsu.edu/hire/ or by emailing Pontelli at EdDeanSearch@nmsu.edu.
“In my experience some of the strongest candidates will be identified by people within the college who understand the mission and can identify applicants who are likely to be a good fit,” Parker said.
The inaugural dean of the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation will have numerous opportunities to develop initiatives as part of the implementation of NMSU’s strategic plan, LEADS 2025 (https://nmsu.edu/LEADS/).
Henrietta Pichon, currently the interim dean of the College of Education, will serve as interim dean of the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation beginning July 1 until a permanent dean is selected.
The goal of the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation is to serve as a regional leader in identifying gaps that lead to disparities in health, education and socioeconomic outcomes. The college’s faculty will work with community partners to design and provide research and academic programs to educate future leaders in policy making through evidence-based practices.