Hines will assist Rathindra Bose, vice president for research and dean of the Graduate College, with the strategic development and implementation of the new college, which will provide central administration for graduate student admissions, appointments, records, thesis/dissertations and other support services. She will manage a staff of 14 employees in the former Office of Graduate Studies.

"Jennifer has the energy and the commitment to make this new college work effectively for graduate students and other members of our campus community," Bose said. "With experience in research, teaching and mentoring graduate students, she will bring an excellent perspective to the job."

Hines has served since 2000 as a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, where she is director of the graduate student program. In 2005, she received the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Outstanding Teacher Award. She also leads a student research exchange program with the University of Leipzig in Germany. Hines receives funding from the National Institutes of Health for her research on novel RNA-targeted medicinal agents that can potentially treat diseases such as HIV, multidrug resistant bacterial infections and cancer. She was awarded a U.S. patent on that work in 2006.

The associate dean position is an interim, two-year appointment designed to assist the dean with the implementation of the new college, Bose said. Hines will serve in the role part-time during the school year and two-thirds time during the summer months. She will continue to conduct research and teach half-time.

"I think the new Graduate College will contribute to increasing the visibility and effectiveness of graduate programs at Ohio University," Hines said. "I am excited to be a part of the process."

Katie Tadlock served as interim associate vice provost for graduate studies from 2007 to 2008. She has resumed her role as director of graduate student services.

The Graduate College will absorb the budget and functions of the Office of Graduate Studies. It will continue to provide academic support services, but also will assume the role of an academic college in performing such functions as clearing students for graduation, helping to create new interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary programs, locating extramural funding for students and finding resources for competitive stipends. In addition, the dean will advocate for graduate students and programs during institutional planning at the academic leadership table.