Office of University Communications 

Dennis Kear named College of Education dean

SPRINGFIELD — Dr. Dennis J. Kear, long-time faculty member and administrator at Wichita State University, has been named the new dean of the College of Education (COE) at Missouri State University. He will assume the position on or before Aug. 1, pending approval from the Missouri State Board of Governors Thursday (May 15).

Kear (pronounced Keer) is associate dean of the College of Education, professor of curriculum and instruction, and director of the South Central Kansas Writing Project at Wichita State. He has also served as chairperson of the department of curriculum and instruction, acting associate dean, director of teacher education and elementary education unit coordinator since 1984 and has been on faculty at Wichita State since 1978. Kear has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education from Emporia State University. He has a Ph.D. in elementary education and reading from Arizona State University. His annual salary will be $130,000.

“Dennis presents exactly the combination of experience and expertise we were looking for,” said Provost Belinda McCarthy. “His strengths balance substantive knowledge with strong interpersonal skills. Our goal is to offer the best teacher preparation in the state of Missouri. I think he is the right person for the job at the right time.”

As COE dean, Kear will oversee three academic departments, the Professional Education Unit, the Institute for School Improvement, COE’s office of student services, the Child Development Center and Greenwood Laboratory School.

“I am ecstatic to be appointed dean in the College of Education at Missouri State University,” said Kear. “MSU’s public affairs mission and reputation for training educators places the college in a strategic position to be part of the solution in improving the quality of education in the state and region. The university’s dynamic administration, faculty, staff and students made the position as dean very attractive. Our schools are the training ground for tomorrow’s leaders and I look forward to working with area educators.”

Kear succeeds Dr. David Hough, who announced last spring that he would step down as dean in May 2008.