8/26/96

ATHENS -- Associate dean of Ohio University's College of Education Karen Viechnicki has been appointed interim dean of the college, according to Provost Sharon Brehm.

Viechnicki's ("VICK-NICKY") Aug. 22 appointment follows the resignation of former Dean H. Wells Singleton. Singleton resigned Aug. 14 to take a position in Florida.

"All those nominated for this position were highly qualified and would have served the college extremely well," Brehm said in a letter to College of Education faculty and staff. "But it seemed to me that Dr. Viechnicki's breadth of understanding of the college's activities and her detailed knowledge of processes and procedures during her associate deanship would be particularly valuable for the college during this period of its development."

An associate professor of curriculum and instruction, Viechnicki, 50, came to Ohio University in 1992 from Kent State University where she had completed her doctorate in education. Viechnicki completed an M.A. in education at the University of Akron and a B.A. in English literature at Beaver College, Glenside, Pa.

"This is going to be a year where we will reassess what we have done in the past and make plans for how we are going to move toward the future," Viechnicki said. "We want to ensure that we continue to deliver quality programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level."

Viechnicki's appointment is until June 1997 with an option to renew the appointment for one year. A national search for a new dean will be conducted, but a search committee has not yet formed.