University names three new deans

COLUMBUS – The Ohio State University President Karen A. Holbrook and Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Barbara R. Snyder have recommended the appointments of deans for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Humanities, and the Ohio State at Marion campus. The appointments are subject to approval by the university’s Board of Trustees.

Paul A. Beck, dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Paul Beck has been appointed dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. The five-year appointment is effective July 1.

Beck, political science department chair since 1991, is the co-author of four books and a number of scholarly articles, and his research has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy. Beck joined Ohio State’s faculty in 1987 as a professor of political science. While at Ohio State, he has received the Distinguished Scholar Award, the Faculty Award for Distinguished University Service, and the Council of Graduate Students’ Outstanding Service Award. He also has been actively involved in numerous departmental, college and university committees. Most recently, he served on the search committee for senior vice president and provost.

Prior to coming to Ohio State, Beck was a professor and chair of political science at Florida State University. He served as chair for the American Political Science Organized Section on Elections, Public Opinion, and Voting Behavior from 1998 to 2000 and also as vice president of the Midwest Political Science Association from 1996 to 1998. Beck earned a bachelor’s degree, with honors, from Indiana University and a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Michigan.

Beck is replacing Randall Ripley who stepped down from the position to teach.

John W. Roberts, dean of the College of Humanities

John Roberts, currently associate dean of the College of Humanities and professor of English, has been appointed dean of the college, effective June 1.

Roberts is the author of three books and a number of scholarly articles. A folklore specialist, he has taught all levels of undergraduate and graduate courses. Roberts joined Ohio State’s faculty in 1996 as a professor of English and in 1998 was appointed chair of the Department of African-American and African Studies. He took a leave of absence to spend two years as the deputy chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities in Washington, D.C. In 2003, he was appointed associate dean of the College of Humanities. He has served on numerous departmental, college and university committees.

Before coming to Ohio State, Roberts taught at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a fellow of the American Folklore Society and served as the society’s president from 1997 to 1999 and also as the president of the Association of African and African-American Folklorists from 1989 to 1997. He has served on several other prestigious national committees and boards, including the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, the Board of Directors of the University of Pennsylvania Press, and the Board of the Smithsonian Institution’s Folklife and Cultural Studies Programs.

Roberts holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Tusculum College, a master’s degree in English from Columbia University, and a doctorate in English from Ohio State. The Office of Academic Affairs conducted a national search to seek applications for the position.

Roberts is replacing Michael Hogan, who was named executive dean of the Colleges of Arts and Sciences before leaving Ohio State to become provost of the University of Iowa.

Gregory S. Rose, dean and director of The Ohio State University Marion Campus

Gregory Rose of Delaware, Ohio, has served as interim dean and director for Ohio State at Marion for the past nine months. Rose began his teaching career in 1982 as assistant professor at Marion, and has served as an associate dean of the Marion campus since 1994.

In addition to his administrative duties, Rose teaches at least one course on geography a year and continues his research, which focuses on the origins of various 19th century populations in the Midwest. He is currently working on book manuscript to become part of “The Discovery of Peoples of Michigan” series published by Michigan State University Press. He has written numerous articles and has been presenting papers at professional meetings since 1980.

Rose earned his master’s and doctorate degrees at Michigan State University, and his bachelor’s degrees in geography and history from Valparaiso University in Indiana.

Rose is replacing Dominic Dottavio, who left Ohio State to become president of Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio.