Four finalists have been identified in the search for the next dean of UGA’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
The new dean will succeed Sharon Y. Nickols, who will step down July 1 after nearly 15 years as dean of the college. Nickols will remain on the faculty to teach and conduct research.
The finalists, chosen by a committee in a national search, are: Thomas R. Chibucos, professor of human development and family studies in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences at Bowling Green State University; Judith C. Forney, dean of the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management at the University of North Texas; Deborah E. Kipp, chair of the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; and Anne L. Sweaney, head of the Department of Housing and Consumer Economics in UGA’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Maureen Grasso, dean of UGA’s Graduate School and chair of the search committee, says the goal is to have the new dean chosen by July 1.
“Each of these candidates possesses strength in leadership, vision and the ability to connect with diverse constituents,” says Grasso. “Each also has documented experience in fundraising.”
During the next few weeks the candidates will make two-day visits to UGA to meet with faculty, staff, extension personnel, students in the college and UGA administrators. Each visit will include a seminar open to all interested people.
The schedule for visits is: Kipp, April 24-25; Forney, April 27-28; Chibucos, May 2-3; and Sweaney, May 8-9.
Chibucos was director of the School of Family and Consumer Sciences at Bowling Green State from 1993-2003. He previously served as interim assistant vice president for academic affairs at the University of Maryland and coordinator of the division of family and child studies at Northern Illinois University.
Forney became dean of the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management at the University of North Texas in 2001 after serving as interim dean. She joined the university in 1992 from Auburn University where she worked with the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. She was previously a professor and graduate coordinator in the School of Education at San Francisco State University.
Kipp began her employment at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1998 as associate dean of the School of Human Environmental Sciences. She became chair of the Department of Nutrition in 2003 after serving twice as interim chair.
Sweaney joined the faculty of UGA’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences in 1981 and has held several positions including undergraduate coordinator and director of the Housing and Demographics Research Center. She became head of the Department of Housing and Consumer Economics in 2004.
