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Miami Middletown names interim dean

By Meagan Engle, Staff Writer Updated 10:03 PM Thursday, July 2, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — Jeanne Hey, a professor of political science and director of international studies at Miami University, has been named interim dean of the college’s Middletown campus.

Hey, 46, will serve in that job for the 2009-10 school year, effective Aug. 10, university officials announced Thursday, July 2. In the meantime, university officials will conduct a national search for a permanent leader.

“I’m very excited. I’m looking forward to it,” Hey said of coming to MUM. “I think it’s a great opportunity for me, and I hope it will be the same for them.”

The university is seeking a permanent replacement for outgoing Dean Kelly Cowan, who resigned May 27 after four years at the post. Cowan plans to serve for a year as MUM’s special community liaison.

Hey, who has been with Miami University Oxford since 1992, was approached about taking the position by the provost.

Miami Oxford spokeswoman Carole Johnson said the details of Hey’s salary as interim dean are still being worked out. She made an annual salary of $96,559 as a teacher.

“We have every confidence that Dr. Hey will do an outstanding job in carrying on the foundation that has already been established at Middletown,” said Associate Provost Michael Dantley.

“As we are in transition, we’re certainly looking at the regional campuses and their relationship with the Oxford campus. We believe that Dr. Hey will be able to clearly articulate the role of the Middletown campus and be able to advocate for that campus,” Dantley said.

MUM spokeswoman Jan Toennisson said the campus is looking forward to Hey’s arrival.

“I think that many members of the faculty and staff at Miami Middletown are very pleased to have someone with Dr. Hey’s depth of administrative experience as interim dean,” Toennisson said.

Hey, who earned her doctorate in political science from Ohio State University, has served on many university committees and task forces, including the Taskforce on International Education and Study Abroad, the University Senate, the Committee to Evaluate Administrators, and the Liberal Education Special Committee on International Curriculum. In 2008-09, Hey chaired the University Fiscal Priorities and Budget Committee.

Her research interests include foreign policy behavior of less developed and small states, especially in Latin America.

She has been a Pew Faculty Fellow in International Studies at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. She has also done many teaching and research appointments around the world.

Hey has two young sons, ages 8 and 13, and lives in Reily Twp.

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I suspect you mean self-appointed, w. The self-anointed tend to be in the religion department.

Alhpa
8:20 AM, 7/4/2009

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yes decaprio, i was being sarcastic---having spent 37 at m.u. , i witnessed first hand the "fairy tell common sense" comming from the self annoited intellectual elite in political science department---

for the sake of the students at the middletown campus, i hope dr ney is an exception

best of luck kelly

w
11:40 AM, 7/3/2009

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Unlike President Obama, Dr. Hey spent time with MU, working on a variety of committees so she knows about the programs. In other words, she appears to have worked her way up, stayed awhile and got experience instead of taking a job and having her eye on the next opportunity. Best wishes to Dr. Hey and MU Middletown.

Ethel S
10:23 AM, 7/3/2009

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Not sure if you're being sarcastic, w, but when you're looking for a captain for the Titanic, you can't be too fussy. Best of luck to Dr. Hey!

Dicaprio
10:21 PM, 7/2/2009

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great---a political science professor with lots of "real world" experience , i'm sure---

w
5:14 PM, 7/2/2009

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