6-7-04
CHRISTIANSEN APPOINTED ASSOCIATE DEAN AT BEHREND
David Christiansen, Ph.D., has been appointed associate dean for undergraduate studies and academic administration at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. In this position he will be responsible for academic policies and procedures for undergraduates, working closely with directors of the college's four schools on matters related to advising, faculty development, faculty recruitment, accreditation and program evaluation, and strategic planning. He will oversee enrollment management, and the college's academic support units will report directly to him.
"My colleagues and I are delighted that a professional of David Christiansen's abilities and background has chosen to come to Penn State Behrend," said Dr. Jack Burke, CEO and dean. "He brings experience and knowledge that will add a new dimension to the college."
Christiansen comes to Penn State Behrend from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, where he was director of interdisciplinary studies. In addition to overseeing Truman's general education program for 6,000 undergraduate students, he coordinated efforts with other public Missouri universities to implement and maintain the university's transfer and articulation policy. He served on multiple university-wide committees and acted as liaison for the Office of Academic Affairs with the ten academic divisions of the university, the Residential College program, the Office of Assessment and Testing, the Faculty Development Office, and the Registrar's Office.
Christiansen also served since 1999 as the dean of Joseph Baldwin Academy, a summer program for 350 gifted middle school students from across the nation. Since 1990 he has been a professor of classics at Truman, teaching Greek and Latin language courses and helping to design and implement a classics major. In addition to many conference presentations, he is the author of numerous journal articles and book reviews in his academic discipline.
He received both master's and doctoral degrees in classics from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. His earned his undergraduate degree in history and Latin from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.
Penn State Behrend was created in 1948 when local businessmen saw a need for a Penn State location in Erie. Today the college enrolls 3,700 students in four schools and offers 31 four-year degrees and 3 graduate programs. The college has more than 21,000 alumni.
Contact:
Loretta Brandon
814-898-6063 (O)
E-mail: lzb6@psu.edu