It will be Almasy’s fourth stint as an interim dean for WVU, serving three times previously in this capacity for Eberly College of Arts and Sciences where he is a professor of English.
“We are lucky to have Dr. Almasy available to step in to what is a familiar role for him,” Wheatly said. “Davis College will be in capable and experienced hands as we continue searching for the right person to lead the college that has defined WVU as a land-grant institution and that will lead our efforts to re-envision its future role in a 21st century land-grant institution.”
In addition to serving as interim Eberly dean on three separate occasions, Almasy is former chair of the English Department, and has supervised the Undergraduate Writing Laboratory and the Business English Program. He has also served as associate dean for academic affairs and associate dean for college development.
“I am honored to have been selected for this assignment and look forward to working with a group of experienced and dedicated individuals in the Davis College,” Almasy said.
Almasy graduated from MacMurray College with his bachelor’s degree and then from the University of Minnesota with his master’s and doctoral degrees.
Almasy’s appointment is effective July 1; he replaces Cameron Hackney who has served since 2000. Dean Hackney leaves this position with a number of accomplishments particularly in growing the extramural funding per capita in the College. He will serve as special assistant to the provost in the coming year, coordinating targeted interdisciplinary and international research initiatives.
The Dean Search Committee will be reconstituted by the end of May and will be led by Robert Jones, dean of Eberly College, who has a background in forestry. Thanks are due to Associate Provost David Miller who chaired the first search and all the committee members who served with distinction.
The Davis dean also serves as director of the West Virginia Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. Davis College has 108 faculty and 150 full-time staff and an enrollment of 1,700 undergraduate and 280 graduate students. It has a full spectrum of degree programs housed in five academic divisions. The West Virginia Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station manages the research facilities of the college, including farms and forests.
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jb/05/03/11
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