Jan M. Hathcote, associate dean for academic affairs and research in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, will become interim dean of the college on July 1.
Hathcote will temporarily serve as dean after Sharon Nickols, who has been dean for 15 years, returns to the college faculty to teach and conduct research, according to Provost Arnett C. Mace Jr.
Hathcote, an associate professor of textiles, merchandising and interiors, has been on the college faculty since 1990. An authority in the areas of international retailing and international trade agreements, she frequently reports on her research in professional journals and maintains a regular teaching schedule of graduate and undergraduate classes in addition to her administrative responsibilities.
“Dr. Hathcote has extensive leadership and administrative experience in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences and at UGA,” says Mace. “I and others greatly admire her administrative skills and commitment to the college and the university. I look forward to working with Jan during this interim period and appreciate her willingness to assume this role given her many other commitments.”
Mace says the search for a permanent dean, which had produced four finalists, has been terminated.
“The search for a permanent dean did not result in a candidate who, in the opinion of the search and screening committee and myself, was the appropriate match for the leadership needs of the college at this time,” says Mace.
A decision about a new search will be announced later.