USU Names New Dean of College of Education and Human Services

Utah State University has named Beth Foley the new dean of the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, pending approval by the university’s board of trustees in December. Foley will replace Carol Strong, who retired as dean May 31.

 

USU President Stan L. Albrecht said he is extremely pleased that the committee selected Foley.

 

“Dr. Foley brings strong leadership talents, is highly respected by her colleagues, and her commitment to students is matchless,” Albrecht said. “We are honored, and pleased, that she is willing to accept this position.”  

 

USU Executive Vice President and Provost Raymond T. Coward said Foley distinguished herself from among a strong pool of national candidates and emerged with widespread support from her colleagues.

 

“She is a proven leader, a dedicated and loyal Aggie and among our most respected colleagues,” Coward said. “We are confident that this highly regarded college will benefit from her experience, perspective and vision.”

 

Foley said she is honored at the opportunity to serve the college in a new capacity.

 

“Although I have always loved and will miss my teaching and clinical activities, the deanship is a huge undertaking that will require my full attention,” Foley said. “I look forward to working closely with the outstanding faculty, staff, students and community partners who, every day, are making such a difference in the lives of others.”

 

Foley earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in communication disorders from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

 

She joined the faculty at USU in 1993 as an associate professor in the Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education. She has taught courses in neuroanatomy and physiology, neuropathologies of speech and language, augmentative and alternative communication, language assessment and intervention, and assistive technology. She has received numerous teaching awards at USU and is internationally recognized for her research in language and literacy development in individuals with severe communication impairments and assistive technology needs.

 

Foley was promoted to full Professor in 2008. She has served as interim dean since June. Prior to that, she served as professor and head of the Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education from 2004 to 2009.

 

Rick Clement, chair of the search committee and dean of libraries at USU, said Foley was clearly the best qualified and best fit for the job.

 

“Dr. Foley has an exceptional track record at every level of the university’s mission,” Clement said. “She has proven leadership skills, and her teaching and research record are outstanding. She was an exceptional candidate, and the committee was pleased to recommend her for the position.”

 

Gretchen Gimpel Peacock, a committee member and department head of Psychology in the college, said she is excited Foley was named new dean.

 

“She has a contagious enthusiasm for the college and a clear vision for building on the many strengths of the college — both in the human services and education areas,” she said. “Dr. Foley is well respected by faculty and staff within the college, and I’m sure I am not alone in saying that I very much look forward to working under her leadership.” 

 

Foley said her predecessor, Dean Carol Strong, left big shoes to fill. During Strong's tenure as dean, Foley said, the college continuously ranked in the top 2 percent of more than 1,200 colleges of education nationally and its faculty generated record amounts of extramural funding — more than $30 million last year alone.

 

“What an incredible legacy and, as the new dean, I will be challenged to maintain this forward momentum and continue to raise the college’s national visibility,” she said.

 

Bernice McCowin, a member of the college’s National Advancement Board, said Foley has been highly respected as interim dean and will have great support from the faculty and staff in the college.

 

“She is an excellent choice to carry on the superb work that is ongoing at this very special college at USU,” McCowin said. “I am delighted Dr. Foley was chosen to lead this outstanding college.”

 

Foley has research expertise in augmentative and alternative communication, assistive technology, language and literacy development, and adult language disorders. She has worked locally with organizations such as the Cache Employment and Training Center and internationally with Gabriel House, an orphanage in Mexico, to change the lives of individuals with complex communication disorders.

 

She also has experience fundraising. With colleagues, she secured funding for Sound Beginnings, an early intervention program at USU serving children with hearing loss, as well as a related interdisciplinary graduate training program in listening and spoken language. Foley also secured funding for distance delivery of interactive American Sign Language and interpreter training courses.

 

She was instrumental in securing funding for distance education programs in the Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education that have brought students from all over the world and all walks of life into USU as both undergraduate and graduate students.

 

 

Writer: Tim Vitale, 435-797-1356, tim.vitale@usu.edu