1/6/97 Contact: Thomas Shostak, Ohio University, 614/593-2890

ATHENS, Ohio -- A reception will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 9) on the first floor of Haning Hall for Thomas Shostak, Ohio University's new dean of the Division of Lifelong Learning.

Shostak, former associate vice president for academic affairs since 1987 at the University of Central Florida, spent part of the winter break making visits to each of the university's five regional campuses after joining Ohio University in November.

The Thursday event also will be an open house showing the new Haning Hall location for the Office of Continuing Education, Conferences, Workshops and Summer Sessions, which formerly was located in Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.

At Central Florida in Orlando, Shostak had administered all campus outreach and extension programs for the university in the dual post of associate vice president and director of continuing education since 1991. He also supervised all off-campus credit programs as director of Orlando Area Programs from 1987-1991.

He previously held teaching and administrative positions at Palm Beach Community College in Florida, Rockland Community College in New York and Brookdale Community College in New Jersey.

Shostak's work with staff and students at Central Florida made him attractive to Ohio University, said Vice President for Regional Higher Education James Bryant.

"He had done some unique things at Central Florida, particularly in the areas of continuing education, conference development and Teaching English as a Foreign Language. These things will be helpful to Ohio University in our lifelong learning education endeavors," Bryant said.

Shostak said he is enthusiastic about his plans to implement new ideas and use technology more effectively.

"My primary interest is in bringing staff and programs together to make them accessible and identifiable as resources that can better serve nontraditional students," Shostak said.

Shostak, who also will teach in Ohio University's School of Applied Behavioral Sciences and Educational Leadership, earned an Ed.D. in educational leadership from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, N.J., a master's degree in student development from Michigan State University, and a bachelor's degree in English from Cornell University.

He replaces Joseph Tucker, who retired from the position of associate vice president of lifelong learning at the end of October. Tucker remains a professor of political science.