Office of University Communications 

Stone resigns as dean of Humanities and Public Affairs

SPRINGFIELD – After seven years, Dr. Lorene Stone has resigned as dean of the College of Humanities and Public Affairs at Missouri State University. Her resignation is effective today (July 31).

Dr. Victor Matthews, associate dean, will serve as interim dean beginning tomorrow (Aug. 1). A nation-wide search for a permanent dean will begin in August and the new dean may start as early as January 2009.

Stone will be on professional development leave this fall and then return to a teaching assignment in sociology at Missouri State in the spring of 2009.

Under Stone’s leadership, the College of Humanities and Public Affairs grew and matured, according to Missouri State Provost Belinda McCarthy. International education was expanded, research was increased and the connections between the college and the public were enhanced. One of the most innovative changes was the physical moving of the defense and strategic studies department to the Washington, D.C., area.

“We very much appreciate all that Dr. Stone has done for the College of Humanities and Public Affairs and Missouri State University,” said McCarthy. “She provided both stability and direction for the faculty and programs, which will serve us well in the future. Dr. Stone is a very talented teacher, so I know students will benefit from having her in the classroom next spring.”

Prior to joining Missouri State, Stone worked in several faculty and administrative positions at Lamar University. She received her B.S. degree magna cum laude in sociology from Iowa State University, and her M.A. degree in 1978 and Ph.D. degree in 1980, both from Washington State University.

Matthews has been at Missouri State University since 1984. He has been associate dean since August of 2001, and served in several administrative positions from 1992-2001. He received his B.A. degree from Missouri State (then Southwest Missouri State) in 1972, and his M.A. degree in 1973 and his Ph.D. degree in 1977, both from Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass. 

During his career at Missouri State, Matthews has written a number of books and articles, and also received a number of teaching and research awards.