College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences – A History
August 2007
Sue Ott Rowlands named Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
July 2007
A letter from Dean Jerry Niles encapsulates his four-year tenure as dean and ends with the Nikki Giovanni quote: “We are better than we think and not quite what we want to be.”
July 2003
The University moves ahead with its restructuring plans under Provost Mark McNamee and the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences is formed. Comprised of the College of Human Sciences and Education (CHSE) and the liberal arts departments of the former College of Arts and Sciences. Jerry Niles, interim dean of the CHSE, is named dean.
The transition council is formed in 2003 to: facilitate the building of bridges between the faculty of the former College of Arts and Sciences and the former College of Human Sciences and Education and the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences in the development of a culture and structure that recognizes the need for diversity and unity.
June 19, 2002
The name “Human Resources” no longer accurately described the disciplines and was often confused with the description of personnel affairs in the field of business; and given the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) identifies the disciplines as “Human Sciences” and is organized as the Board on Human Sciences of NASULGC; the College of Human Resources and Education was changed to the College of Human Sciences and Education.
1996
The College of Human Resources becomes the College of Human Resources and Education under Dean Janet Johnson and holds its first meeting
1993
Dean Peggy Meszaros heads the College of Human Resources
- Administered a college with 85 FTE resident instruction/research/extension faculty, 75 graduate teaching and research assistants, 30 staff, 1500 undergraduate and 300 graduate students, instructional, research contract and grants budgets of $8 million annually and a $3.4 million endowment.
- Restructured administration and programs to absorb budget deficit.
- Initiated first private fund development committee for Capital Campaign.
- Introduced new research and instruction philosophy for child development program.
- Coordinated campus-wide Design Consortium bringing together five departments in three colleges for sharing teaching, research, and outreach initiatives for students and programs.
- Promoted development of discipline and department advisory boards bringing business and industry professionals regularly to campus, sponsoring internships and placement.
1982
The College of Home Economics is renamed the College of Human Resources. Its four departments reorganize into: the Department of Clothing and Textiles; the Department of Family and Child Development; the Department of Housing, Interior Design, and Resource Management; and the Department of Human Nutrition and Foods.
1980
Sanford J. Ritchey becomes Dean of the College of Home Economics at the beginning of the fall term.
For an extended history of the College of Home Economics from 1921-1982, please visit:
http://spec.lib.vt.edu/archives/depthistory/chre/timeline1.htm