BGSU names new dean of College of Arts and Sciences

BOWLING GREEN, O.—Bowling Green State University has chosen an experienced Ohio administrator as its next dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Raymond Craig, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Kent State University, will join BGSU effective June 30, pending approval by the Board of Trustees at the June 19 meeting.

Rodney Rogers, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, made the announcement May 8. Craig follows Simon Morgan-Russell, who has become dean of BGSU’s new Honors College.

Rogers described Craig as an “innovative leader with a strong background in all aspects of college administration, from the academic to the budgetary. The screening committee and attendees at his forums were impressed with both his philosophy of education and his administrative experience.”

“I am honored to have this opportunity to serve the students and faculty at Bowling Green State University,” Craig said. “During my visits, I was impressed with the interdisciplinary legacy at BGSU and the commitment to infuse the liberal arts educational experience of BG students with real world experience and application—and I was very impressed with the people of the university.

“The excellent faculty and friendly, supportive staff are at the heart of Bowling Green experience, and I look forward to becoming part of this community and helping Bowling Green excel in the years to come.”

At Kent, Craig founded and developed the research mission for a college research support office. From 2005-07, he facilitated faculty learning communities in northeast Ohio and statewide through the Faculty Professional Development Center. He also has experience in student retention and learning-assessment processes using data-based resources.

An English department faculty member since 1989, he served as graduate coordinator of the largest graduate program in the College of Arts and Sciences, with 160 students across two doctoral programs, one MFA and three master’s programs. He also served multiple terms as doctoral program chair, and for 10 years directed the Technology and Writing Research Program.

He is the author of four books, several articles, and encyclopedia entries on early American poets and poetics; he has taught broadly in literary studies, rhetoric and writing studies. He has a Ph.D. in English from the University of California, Davis; a master’s degree from Kent State and a bachelor’s from the University of California, Berkeley.