Jun. 06, 2014 @ 12:10 AM
HUNTINGTON — Marshall University has named Robert Bookwalter dean of its College of Liberal Arts. Bookwalter has served as interim dean since June 2013. “I am honored to have been selected as dean of the College of Liberal Arts,” Bookwalter said in a news release. “I look forward to working with the faculty and the students to face the challenges that we are presented with now in higher education. I understand that this is my greatest responsibility — to serve our students and to help strengthen our programs, along with the faculty and administration.” Bookwalter joined the department of speech, now communication studies, in 1987. His teaching and research interests are in the areas of peace and conflict studies, interpersonal communication, group dynamics, leadership and language. He has served as chair of the College of Liberal Arts academic planning and curriculum committees and served on the college’s promotion and tenure committee. He served as director of the Oral Communication component of the General Education program for 15 years. In 2000, he led the university’s General Education Council which oversaw the transition to the new Core Curriculum. He also served as Faculty Athletics Representative to the NCAA from 2002 to 2012. A native of San Jose, California, Bookwalter received his Bachelor of Arts in speech communication from Fresno State University in 1979, his Master of Arts in interpersonal communication from the University of Montana in 1982 and his doctorate in communication studies from the University of Kansas in 1989. Gayle Ormiston, senior vice president of academic affairs and provost, said in a release Bookwalter brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that is highly valued on Marshall’s campus. “His ‘students-first’ philosophy makes the academic programs he and faculty within the College of Liberal Arts are building even more outstanding,” Ormiston said. Bookwalter’s new appointment begins July 1.