Monday, March 14, 2011

Two new deans have been named to head major units of the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Kenneth Teitelbaum is the newly appointed dean of the Watson School of Education, and Charles Hardy will lead the university's College of Health and Human Services as its founding dean. Both appointments are effective July 1.

Karen Wetherill has served as interim dean of the education school since May 2009, when Cathy Barlow stepped down to take an interim role as the university's provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. Barlow was named permanently to that position in May 2010. The College of Health and Human Services has been led on an interim basis by Johnson Akinleye, UNCW's associate vice chancellor for academic programs, since its inception as a new college in July 2010.

"We are so pleased to welcome these two accomplished individuals to UNCW," said Provost Barlow. "They are both highly respected educators and administrators who will bring strong leadership to our campus during a time of tremendous opportunities for future growth and development as well as tremendous challenges as we face continued state budget issues."

Since 2007, Teitelbaum was dean of the College of Education and Human Services at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Prior to that, he was a department chair at Kent State University in Ohio from since 2000, an associate professor at Binghamton University, SUNY from 1988-2000, and an assistant and associate professor at Syracuse University from 1985-88.

Teitelbaum received his Ph.D. in curriculum studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He holds a Master of Arts degree in social studies education from Cornell University and a B.A. in history from New York University. He is the author of Schooling for "Good Rebels": Socialism, American Education, and the Search for Radical Curriculum and a variety of journal articles and book chapters. A frequent presenter at regional and national conferences, he has been a successful grant writer and an active participant in local and regional education initiatives.

Hardy comes to UNCW from Georgia Southern University, where he was founding dean of the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health since 2006, dean of the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies from 2002-2005, associate dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences from 2001-2002, and chair of the Department of Health and Kinesiology from 1994-2001. He was an associate professor at UNC Chapel Hill from 1983-1994.

Hardy holds a Ph.D. from Louisiana State University in kinesiology/psychology and was a post-doctoral research fellow in exercise and sport science at UNC Chapel Hill. He earned his Master of Science degree in exercise science from the University of Tennessee and a B.S. in health and physical education from East Carolina University. His research focuses on the role of social influence processes in health and human performance, which he has presented at regional, national and international conferences. He also has served as a reviewer and editor for numerous academic publications. In 2009, he received the Distinguished Educator/Researcher of the Year award from the Georgia Rural Health Association, and in 2010 he was appointed by the governor to the Georgia Advisory Council for Public Health.

"Given their experience and areas of expertise, I am confident that these two educators will help the university move forward in accomplishing its goals and mission in service to Southeastern North Carolina and beyond," said Barlow.

The Watson School of Education is the fourth largest producer of teachers at the undergraduate level in North Carolina and has been rated "exemplary" by the State Board of Education. Only 7 out of 47 North Carolina teacher education programs received this honor. In 2006, the Watson School received the Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher Education from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, which honors leadership and innovation in teacher education. It maintains excellent partnerships with businesses, school systems and community colleges in the region.

UNCW's College of Health and Human Services intends to be the leading authority in health professional education, policy, service delivery, research and continuing professional support in southeastern N.C., as well as a state and national leader. The college creates and maintains the highest quality learning opportunities for students that prepare them to meet public health competencies, experience academic citizenship and apply their scientific knowledge through close partnerships with the community.

Media contact:
Dana Fischetti, media relations manager, 910.508.3127 or fischettid@uncw.edu