Search committee begins work

By Michael Childs
After 24 years in the College of Education, including six years as dean, Russell H. Yeany has announced that he will resign as dean effective Aug. 31, 1999.
Yeany says his decision is based on a desire to refocus personal and career goals.
“My years in the College of Education have been productive and very rewarding,” Yeany says. “I am very proud of our college, and cherish my many experiences at the university. I look forward to supporting the college and the incoming dean.”
Yeany joined the college in 1975 as an assistant professor of science education. He was head of the science-education department from 1985 to 1990 and director of the School of Education in the college from 1990 to 1994. He served as acting dean in 1992–93 and has been permanent dean since 1994.
President Michael F. Adams says he accepted Yeany’s decision “with great reluctance.
“Dr. Yeany’s leadership, creativity and energy have resulted in great strides forward for the College of Education,” Adams says. “I am deeply appreciative of his many years of excellent service to the university, and I join with his faculty, staff and many university colleagues in offering best wishes for the future.”
Adams says he and Karen Holbrook, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, have met to discuss the college’s future leadership. Holbrook has appointed a search committee to begin the process of finding a successor to Yeany.
UGA’s education college is the largest in the country with more than 240 faculty members, 3,000 undergraduates and 2,000 graduate students.
During his tenure, Yeany has enjoyed strong faculty and staff support toward achieving excellence and recognition for the college--the two major goals he set as a signature for the college.
The college consistently ranks in the top tier of public and private education schools, and many of its academic programs are ranked among the nation’s best. In the past year one faculty member was appointed a University Professor and two faculty members won the Meigs Award, UGA’s highest prize for teaching excellence.
The college has placed strong emphasis on multicultural education and increased faculty and curriculum diversity under Yeany’s leadership.
Internal funding support has increased for research and technology development, especially through the Learning and Performance Support Laboratory. The college has expanded its outreach mission by connecting outreach efforts to academic programs with a focus on service learning.
Yeany is a past president of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching and served on the executive board of the National Science Teachers Association.
He is a member of the Professional Standards Commission and is a past editor of the Journal of Research in Science Teaching.
He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate in science education from the University of Colorado.
Before joining UGA, Yeany taught at the University of Colorado and Southern Illinois University.
(9-11-98)

See related article: Search Committee begins screening.