In an email, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, David Lee, announced three faculty appointments to serve as interim deans and executive director of the Mahurin Honors College.

Economics department head, Cathy Carey, will serve as interim dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business. Dennis George, former dean of University College, will serve as interim dean of the College of Health and Human Services. Nancy Rice, a biology faculty member, will serve as the acting executive director of the Honors College. 

Lee said WKU will conduct national searches for the business and health colleges to fill the dean position, and neither Carey nor George would be candidates. 

“Cathy, Dennis, and Nancy have all changed their professional and personal plans to accept these temporary appointments, and I’d like to thank them for their willingness to do so.  I’m confident that they will provide excellent leadership in the months ahead,” Lee said in the email. 

Jeffrey Katz, dean of Gordon Ford, confirmed his resignation with the Herald on March 23. Katz’s resignation will go into effect on June 30, and he will return to the college next spring in a faculty position and teach in the department of management.

Neale Chumbler, dean of the College of Health and Human Services, was named the dean of the University of North Texas‘ College of Health and Public Service, according to a press release from UNT. His tenure will begin July 1. 

George was dean of University College, but the college will be eliminated effective July 1.

Craig Cobane, executive director of the Honors College, will spend the 2018-19 academic year as a American Council on Education Fellow, according to a university press release. 

The resignations of deans, and the elimination of University College in George’s case, makes WKU short four deans heading into the upcoming 2018-19 academic year.