Walter R. Zakahi of New Mexico State University has been named the new dean of the College of Arts & Humanities at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Zakahi’s appointment was announced by Provost and Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs Scott Olson. He will begin his duties as dean early in July.
He succeeds Jane Earley, who retired last year after serving for 35 years as dean of the college. Faculty member Terry Flaherty has served as interim dean since then.
“Dr. Zakahi has a strong record of research, publication and professional awards,” Olson said in announcing the appointment. “He will be an excellent addition to our academic team.”
“I am excited by the opportunity to lead such a vibrant college,” Zakahi said. “The College of Arts & Humanities has an exceptional reputation that is clearly the result of the hard work of the faculty and the strong leadership of Dean Earley and, recently, Interim Dean Flaherty. I am looking forward to building on the college’s successful track record and working with my new colleagues.”
Zakahi, who grew up in South Dakota, is professor of communication studies at New Mexico State University. He has four years of experience as academic associate dean for that university’s College of Arts & Sciences, overseeing student advising, recruitment and retention.
At New Mexico State he taught interpersonal communication, communication theory and quantitative methods.
He joined New Mexico State in 1991, and was promoted to professor and appointed head of the Communication Studies Department in 1998. In 2008-‘09 he served in the University of Wisconsin system office as an American Council on Education fellow – higher education’s premier and oldest leadership development program.
He has published numerous articles about communication skills, social anxiety and loneliness. He edited the journal Communication Reports, published by the Western States Communication Association, from 2004-2006.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Bradley University in 1978 and a doctorate from Bowling Green State University in 1982.
Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive, doctoral university with 14,950 students, is part of the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system, which comprises 32 institutions across the state.
Email this article | Permanent link | Topstories news | Topstories news archives
Minnesota State
University, Mankato
Mankato, MN 56001
1-800-722-0544
© 2005-2013 Minnesota State University, Mankato. Minnesota State University, Mankato is a member of
Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system and an affirmative action/equal opportunity university.
