University News
COEHS Dean Smith-Skripps Announces Retirement
July 25, 2008
MACOMB, IL -- Bonnie Smith-Skripps, dean of Western Illinois University's College of Education and Human Services (COEHS), will retire May 1, 2009, after 35 years of service. A national search will begin in early Fall 2008, according to Provost and Academic Vice President Jack Thomas.
Smith-Skripps was named COEHS dean in June 2004. Prior to that she served as interim COEHS dean from 2001-2004. As the College of Education and Human Services dean, Smith-Skripps has been responsible for the overall leadership and management of the college, including faculty recruitment, development and evaluation, as well as program development and review. She also has taken an active role in fundraising and developing several external partnerships. She serves as chair of the University Teacher Education Committee and oversees the accreditation process of Western's teacher education program.
During her tenure as dean, the doctoral program in educational leadership and the undergraduate emergency management major were approved as new degree offerings, and the department of law enforcement and justice administration became a school. Smith-Skripps has a cumulative record as principal/co-principal investigator of more than $28 million in grant awards. Her professional and scholarly activities have been in the areas of early childhood special education, rural education, adult education, professional development and instructional technologies. She has been an advocate for technology integration in teaching and learning across disciplines and was the principal investigator of a five-year, multi-state USDE Star Schools Project, STAR-Online, funded for $9.75 million.
She was a member of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) Technology in Teaching Committee, serving as chair for one year; and she served two terms as chair of the United Star Distance Learning Consortium and one year as president of the Illinois Association of Deans of Public Colleges of Education.
She was also a member of the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory's Rural Education Advisory Council and a member of the Governor's Homeland Security Task Force. In 2002, she received the grand prize of the SBC National Telecommunications Partnership Awards program, sponsored by the SBC Foundation and the National Association of Partnerships in Education. In 2006 she was recognized by WIU's Department of Educational Leadership with the Arnold W. Salisbury Educational Leadership Award; and in 2007 she was named Carl Sandburg College Distinguished Alumna.
Prior to being named acting dean in December 2001, Smith-Skripps served the college as assistant and associate dean from 1995-2001. From 1980-1995 Smith-Skripps served as the coordinator of Macomb Projects and director of special projects at the college. Prior to entering administrative positions, she taught in the department of English and journalism from 1975-1979.
"Dr. Smith-Skripps' years of service and dedication to the University and the College of Education and Human Services are to be commended," said Thomas. "We wish her well, and I'd like to thank her for the work she has done."
Smith-Skripps earned her B.A. (1973) in English Teacher Certification, her M.A. (1974) in English and her Ed.S. (1989) in Educational Administration from Western. Her Ph.D. (1993) in Educational Administration is from Southern Illinois University.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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