OSU/A&M Regents approve Coon, Garbutt for new leadership positions; take additional personnel actions

Friday, April 25, 2014

The OSU/A&M Board of Regents approved two Oklahoma State University leadership positions during its meeting Friday in Muskogee. Dr. Thomas Coon was named Vice President, Dean and Director of the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (DASNR). Dr. Keith Garbutt was named the inaugural Dean of the OSU Honors College.

Coon comes to Oklahoma State from Michigan State University, where he serves as Director of Extension and professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. “Thomas Coon brings a 25-year track record of leadership in higher education and expertise in agriculture and natural resources, specifically in the areas of water ecology and management that are becoming increasingly important issues across the state, nation and world,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “We are pleased to have Dr. Coon join the OSU team.”  Link to more details.

Garbutt is currently Dean of the Honors College and a full professor in biology at West Virginia University. The West Virginia honors program supports nearly 1,800 students. “We are pleased to name Keith Garbutt as the dean of our nationally respected Honors College,” said Hargis. “Dr. Garbutt has an impressive record of building an honors program for students and we look forward to him leading OSU to even greater levels of success.” Link to more details.

For photos of the new deans click here.

In other action:

APPOINTMENTS:  Richard Melstrom, assistant professor, agricultural economics; Marshall Baker, assistant professor, agricultural education, communication and leadership; and Hao-Che Wu, assistant professor, political science.

From OSU in Oklahoma City, Joey Fronheiser, associate vice president, academic affairs and Leslie Morris, instructor, health sciences.

CHANGES: Scott Gelfand, title change from associate professor to associate professor and head, philosophy; Doren Recker, title change from associate professor and head to associate professor, philosophy; Charles Abramson, title change from Regents professor to Regents professor and Dr. Lawrence L. Boger Distinguished Professorship, psychology;  Carolyn Henry, title change from professor to professor and Masonic Chair, human development and family sciences;  Robin Leech, title change from associate professor to associate professor and associate dean, library; and James Wicksted, title change from professor and director of multidisciplinary studies, College of Arts and Sciences to professor and director, OSU EPSCOR, Research and Technology Transfer.

 

From the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Melanie Boileau, title change from associate professor to associate professor and McCasland Clinical Professor, veterinary clinical sciences.

RETIREMENT: Terrence Bidwell, natural resource ecology and management, June, 30, 2014; Carey Hissey, art, May 31, 2014; Keith Tribble, foreign languages, April 8, 2014; Joseph Byrnes, history, June 10, 2014; Michael Sowell, media and strategic communications, May 31, 2014; Robert Miller, microbiology and molecular genetics, June 3, 2014; Dee Sanders, civil and environmental engineering, May 31, 2014; Gary Young, mechanical and aerospace engineering, June 6, 2014; Theodore Drab, design, housing, merchandising, June 1, 2014; John Phillips, library, July 1, 2014; and Robert Spurrier, Honors College, July 1, 2014.