Furlow, who has served the Lancaster campus as associate dean since 1993 and previously filled the dean's role in an interim capacity, has been named dean under a one-year appointment. To round out the leadership team at the Lancaster campus, Candice Thomas-Maddox will serve as acting associate dean, taking over Furlow's former duties.

"I am pleased that John Furlow has accepted an appointment as dean of the Lancaster campus," said Kathy Krendl, executive vice president and provost. "His experience and previous service to the campus will help to assure leadership stability."

At Ohio University-Lancaster, Furlow has developed several associate degree programs, established the campus chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society and strengthened teacher education and relationships with area schools.

"These are challenging times for higher education in Ohio and in the nation," Furlow said. "I look forward to helping the Lancaster campus define its policies in the University System of Ohio."

"I'm very excited about working with the secondary schools on dual-enrollment programs and helping students to successfully participate in the governor's Seniors to Sophomores program," he added.

Prior to joining Ohio University, Furlow served as the director of academic affairs and assistant professor of history at Penn State's DuBois campus. He has studied social feminism of the 1920s and 1930s, and published several articles about Gifford Pinchot, chief forester under Teddy Roosevelt. Furlow earned a doctoral degree in history from the University of North Carolina, a master's degree from the University of Michigan and a bachelor's degree from Middlebury College in Vermont.

Thomas-Maddox joined the university as a faculty member on the Athens campus in 1994 and moved to the Lancaster campus in 2000 as assistant professor and coordinator of the communication studies program across the regional campus system. She was promoted to associate professor in 2002 and to professor this year. Thomas-Maddox earned a doctoral degree in education in 1994 and a bachelor's degree in 1989 from West Virginia University.

"As well as their service to the Lancaster campus, both John and Candice bring a breadth of knowledge about and a comprehensive perspective of the regional campus system," said Dan Evans, executive dean for regional campuses. "I believe these appointments will establish a solid and stable leadership core for the Lancaster campus as the campus addresses the immediate challenges and looks to the future under the University System of Ohio."