Betty Lou Whitford has been named the new dean of the College of Education.
Whitford comes to Auburn from the University of Southern Maine, where she served as the dean of the College of Education and Human Development, as well as a professor of education for almost eight years.
Whitford said she is looking forward to the new challenges of working with Auburn University.
"It's a much bigger university," she said.
Such a large difference in size difference will have an influence the way Whitford interacts with the staff and colleagues.
"I could work directly with faculty," Whitford said about her job at the University of Southern Maine. "Here, I'll work with department heads and staff."
Michael Tullier, director of the Office of External Relations in the College of Education, said Whitford's previous work at the Teachers College at Columbia University is significant particularly because of the level of national recognition the center has.
"She is really going to be an asset to our college," Tullier said.
Whitford said one of her immediate plans for the college are to get to know the programs and people.
"It's a complicated and complex college," Whitford said. "We'll probably do selectively new programs to keep the curriculum alive."
Some of those programs may include a greater focus on international efforts, such as additional study abroad programs, online expansion with more distance learning and interaction with institutions outside of Auburn University, such as public schools, public agencies and the military.
Susan Villaume, associate dean of the College of Education, said one of Whitford's particular strengths is her expertise with building partnerships between universities, schools and community organizations.
The College of Education works closely with outside organizations in order to assist in teacher preparation, for example.
"We need to be serious about outreach, and Auburn University is serious," Whitford said.
In addition to being excited about the quality of faculty and students at Auburn, Whitford said she's looking forward to collaboration across colleges.
Auburn is the fifth institution with which Whitford has worked, and she says experience is the greatest strength she brings to the College of Education.
"I've seen how different institutions deal with processes and ideas," Whitford said. "I can bring ideas from those experiences."
Whitford said she is looking forward to meeting a lot of students because she believes the dean should be accessible.
She said she already has plans to achieve this goal in the near future by meeting with various leaders of student organizations.
Whitford said she will miss the people she worked with at the University of Southern Maine, but she is happy to be here.
Whitford was selected by a panel of 12 people, Villaume said.
The chair of the search committee that selected her was June Henton, dean of the College of Human Sciences.
The only other thing Whitford has to get used to?
"Living on Central time," Whitford said jokingly. "I've never lived on Central time before."
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