Bowling Green, Ky. - As Western Kentucky University begins the fall 2006 semester, several academic departments have new leaders.

Dr. Peter Hamburger is head of the Department of Mathematics. Dr. Hamburger holds a Ph.D. from Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary, and most recently was professor of mathematics at Indiana-University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. 

Dr. V. Lakshmi Narasimhan is head of the Department of Computer Science. Dr. Narasimhan has a Ph.D. from the University of Queensland, Australia, and he most recently served as full professor and chair of Software Engineering in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Newcastle, Australia. 

Dr. Carol Jo Wilkerson is head of the Modern Languages Department. Dr. Wilkerson, who was chair of the Department of Foreign Languages at Carson-Newman College, earned a Ph.D. in Foreign Language Education at the University of Georgia.

Dr. Jack Rudolph is head of the Department of Agriculture. Dr. Rudolph, who earned his Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University, has been at WKU since 1994 and had served as interim head of the department.

Lynn Austin, who had served as acting head and interim head of the Department of Allied Health, was named head of the department in January 2006.

Five other departments have interim heads: Dr. David Dunn, Department of Public Health; Kacy Harris, Health Sciences Division at Bowling Green Community College; Michelle Jackson, Academic Support Division at Bowling Green Community College; Dr. Arvin Vos, Department of Philosophy and Religion; and Dr. John Wassom, Business and Computer Studies Division at Bowling Green Community College.

In other recent appointments announced by the Division of Academic Affairs:

Dr. Larry Snyder has been promoted to associate dean of Potter College of Arts & Letters.
Dr. Snyder, associate professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion, has served as assistant dean since 2003.

Dr. Bruce Kessler has been appointed assistant dean of Ogden College of Science and Engineering. Dr. Kessler, an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics, has served as interim assistant dean since 2004. 

Dr. Richard Bowker has been appointed the interim dean of Graduate Studies while a search for a permanent replacement for Dr. Elmer Gray is conducted. Dr. Bowker continues his duties as head of the Biology Department. 

Dr. Richard C. Miller is the new associate vice president for Academic Affairs-Faculty Personnel and Academic Policy. Dr. Miller has held a variety of leadership roles at different types of institutions, including department chairperson (Bowie State), dean of the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance (Ithaca College), senior vice president for Academic Affairs (Benedict College), and dean of Graduate Programs (Benedict College). Dr. Miller earned the Doctor of Physical Education degree at Springfield College and will hold the rank of professor in the Department of Physical Education and Recreation Administration.  

Dr. Sadiq Shah is the new associate vice president for Research and Economic Development. Dr. Shah had served as director of the Western Illinois Entrepreneurship Center Network and as the founding Director of the Office of Technology Transfer. He has a Ph.D. in chemistry from Washington University. 

Sherry Reid was appointed dean of the Bowling Green Community College after serving as interim dean for several years.

Dr. William Tallon became dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business on June 1. Dr. Tallon had served as interim dean and associate dean of the College of Business at Northern Illinois University. He earned a Ph.D. in business Administration at the University of Iowa. 

Dr. Juanita Bayless, director of WKU-Glasgow, Dr. Marilyn Brookman, director of WKU-Owensboro, and Dr. Ronald Stephens, director of WKU-Elizabethtown/Fort Knox, were all promoted to associate dean of the Division of Extended Learning and Outreach (DELO). 

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Academic Affairs at (270) 745-2296.

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