Lincoln, (Neb.) - Aug. 24, 1998 - Karen E. Craig has announced she will retire as dean of the University of Nebraska- Lincoln College of Human Resources and Family Sciences at the end of the 1998-99 academic year.
"It's been a series of years increasing the breadth of vision for the college," Craig said of her work as dean since 1986. "I'm pleased we have a Ph.D. program that we did not have before and we have been out front on distance education. The college has collaborated with other units on campus and we are collaborating in academic and research matters increasingly with organizations in the state and nation.
"I would like to commend the faculty on innovation in distance education, educational technology and new teaching and learning processes."
Irv Omtvedt, vice chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, praised Craig's efforts and said, "She has been truly a change agent for the college and brought about many innovations that have greatly enhanced the college's effectiveness and responsiveness. She has fostered tremendous partnerships within and outside the university. She has made a great contribution. We are going to miss her."
Richard Edwards, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, said, "Dean Craig has provided wise and visionary leadership for the college for 12 years and has not only become a widely respected leader for the campus at large, but the nation as well. Her leadership has been characterized by a willingness to challenge herself and her faculty to set high aspirations and work hard to realize them. Her leadership has laid a foundation for this college to prosper in the future."
The innovations instituted by Craig were acknowledged in 1993 when the NU Board of Regents approved changing the name of the college from the College of Home Economics.
Craig came to Nebraska from Purdue University, where she was associate dean of the School of Consumer and Family Sciences and was assistant director of Purdue's Cooperative Extension Service.
She earned her bachelor's in home economics at Northeast Missouri Teachers College, now Truman State University. She earned her master's and doctoral degrees in home management and family economics at Purdue.
Craig has served the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences/American Home Economics Association and the Association of Administrators of Home Economics/Board on Home Economics and numerous other national groups. She was honored with the Leader Award from the American Home Economics Association in 1994. Craig was selected for the award based on her record of extensive leadership in the home economics profession nationally and within Nebraska and for being a role model to others in the profession.
A committee will be appointed to begin a national search for
a new dean.
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