Ohio University President M. Duane Nellis and Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Elizabeth Sayrs have announced the appointment of Joseph Shields as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences beginning May 12, 2018. 

Shields currently serves as OHIO’s vice president for research and creative activity and dean of the graduate college. David Koonce, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering in the Russ College of Engineering and Technology and associate dean in the Graduate College at Ohio University, will serve as interim vice president for research and creative activity and dean of the graduate college until Shields returns to his previous appointment. 

“Joe’s leadership as vice president for research and creative activity and dean of the graduate college has been critical to the University’s mission. Joe has demonstrated great stewardship on behalf of OHIO’s faculty and students, and I am grateful for his willingness to serve in this role,” President Nellis said.

Shields, who is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, joined Ohio University in 1996. Shields previously served as chair of the Physics and Astronomy Department, one of the University’s most active research departments that also houses one of the institution’s largest doctoral programs. He received a B.S. in physics and astronomy from the University of Kansas and a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of California at Berkeley. 

“As the University’s largest College, Arts and Sciences is central to Ohio University's transformative learning experience,” said Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Elizabeth Sayrs. “We are confident that Joe will provide leadership to support priorities for continued advancement in teaching, research and scholarship, and faculty development while the search for the next dean is underway.”

Shields will continue in the interim dean role until a permanent dean of the College of Arts and Sciences is named in the next academic year.