Sadowski to lead Purdue Extended Campus
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Mary Sadowski has been appointed dean of Purdue Extended Campus, university officials announced Thursday (May 10).
The appointment, subject to ratification by the university's Board of Trustees, is effective June 1.
Sadowski, who has been at Purdue since 2003, is now interim dean of PEC. She was previously associate dean for undergraduate programs and learning in the College of Technology.
"Mary has a deep understanding of the important role Extended Campus plays in a range of educational efforts, particularly in continuing education and distance learning," said Timothy D. Sands, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost and Purdue's Basil S. Turner Professor of Engineering.
Victor Lechtenberg, special assistant to the president and director of the Center for Regional Development, chaired the 15-person search committee.
"The committee did a great job in evaluating a strong group of candidates," Lechtenberg said. "Mary stood out with her excellent work at the College of Technology and the job she has done as interim dean of Extended Campus."
From 2003 until 2011, Sadowski was associate dean for undergraduate programs and learning in the College of Technology. Prior to that she was a professor of information and management technology at Arizona State University and a professor of computer graphics at Purdue.
Her research interests include enhancing visualization skills and creative thinking. She has published more than 30 papers, presented more than 45 technical papers, 12 workshops and written four textbooks. She also has been the technical editor of the Engineering Design Graphics Journal.
Sadowski won the Violet Haas Award for outstanding efforts on behalf of women at Purdue in 2010.
"I'm excited to lead Extended Campus, which offers so many vital programs," Sadowski said. "Online learning is becoming very important in today's world. We are increasing the resources and efforts we are devoting to this key area."
Most online learning at Purdue is supported by PEC. This approach to teaching and learning is expanding and evolving rapidly, with online content delivery platforms augmented by integrated tools for online assessment, simulation, student interaction and faculty engagement.
In addition to distance education, the continuing education unit provides enrichment programs for seniors, evening courses, and credit and non-credit professional development programs.
Sadowski earned her bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University and her master's degree from Ohio State University. She received her doctorate from Purdue.
Writer: Greg McClure, 765-496-9711, gmcclure@purdue.edu
Sources: Timothy Sands, 765-494-9709, tsands@purdue.edu
Mary Sadowski, 765-496-2321, sadowski@purdue.edu
Victor Lechtenberg, 765-494-9095, vll@purdue.edu
