Purdue names inaugural dean for health and human sciences college
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Christine Ladisch, vice provost for academic affairs, will serve as inaugural dean for Purdue University's College of Health and Human Sciences.
Christine Ladisch
A national search for a dean will begin in fall 2011 with plans for the new dean to be in place for the 2012-13 academic year.
Ladisch's appointment will take effect July 1, at the same time the college is launched. Dennis Savaiano, dean of the College of Consumer and Family Sciences, also will assume a role in the Office of the Provost on July 1. As associate provost, he will focus on growing the university-wide honors and undergraduate studies programs.
"Chris Ladisch's leadership experience will be a significant asset as we move forward with this college realignment," said Randy Woodson, Purdue's executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. "Her administrative expertise is deep from her experiences at the departmental, college and university levels, and she will help establish a foundation for this college to achieve its goals to enhance the health and human sciences programs.
"We also want to thank Dennis Savaiano for his 15 years of leadership as dean of the College of Consumer and Family Sciences. We look forward to his dedication and skill in helping us continue to improve our undergraduate study programs, which are of great importance to Purdue's strategic plan, 'New Synergies,' to improve the learning experiences and outcomes for students."
Ladisch has served as vice provost for academic affairs since July 2005 and as associate provost since 2001. She provides leadership in undergraduate education and deals with matters of personnel, budget, academic planning, program evaluation, and general academic policy development and implementation. She served as associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Consumer and Family Sciences from 1993-1999 and as department head of consumer sciences and retailing from 1999-2001.
"I am excited about this opportunity to bring together faculty, staff and students in the health and human sciences-related disciplines. The possibilities for new research collaborations, academic programs, and student opportunities aimed at improving human health and the quality of life are endless," Ladisch said.
The College of Health and Human Sciences, which will replace the College of Consumer and Family Sciences, will house the departments of Health and Kinesiology; Psychological Sciences; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; Child Development and Family Studies; Foods and Nutrition; Consumer Sciences and Retailing; and Hospitality and Tourism Management, as well as the schools of Nursing and Health Sciences.
The realignment will create no changes for the current 4,961 undergraduate majors and 557 graduate students in the academic programs involved. There will be no increase in the overall number of administrative leadership positions associated with the new college.
Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu
Source: Christine Ladisch, 765-494-6970, ladischc@purdue.edu
Related news release:
Purdue strengthens health, human sciences with college realignment