NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF ACADEMIC DEANS
Previous Conference Themes and Chairs
Year
Theme
Chair
1941
Problems of the Dean
Charles Prall, Commission on Teacher Education,
American Council on Education
1948
Implementing the General Education Program
Clyde M. Hill, Chairman Department of Education,
Yale University Graduate School
1949
The Human Element in College Director
Dexter M. Keezer, Department of Economics,
and University Administration
McGraw-Hill Book Company
1950
The Evaluation and Improvement of Teaching
Russell M. Cooper, Assistant Dean, College of Science,
Literature and the Arts - University of Minnesota
1951
Defining, Activating, and Evaluating
Sidney Hook, Professor Psychology,
Institutional Objectives
New York University
1952
Emerging Patterns in Higher Education
Emil Leffler, Dean, Albion College
1953
The Challenge of the Gifted Student
Emil Leffler, Dean, Albion College
1954
The Functions of the Dean: His Duties and Relationships
Wendel S. Dysinger, Dean, Mac Murray College
1955
The Dean in Initiating and Shaping Institutional Policy
Ernest G. Hildner, Jr., Dean, Illinois College
1956
Plans and Specifications for Meeting the
W. Francis English, Dean, University of Missouri
Challenges of the Next Decade
1957
What is Effective Training?
E. Ray McCartney, Dean, Kansas State College
1958
Evaluation of Student Achievement
Merrill Patterson, Dean, Marietta College
1959
The Excitement of Learning
Frank W. Clippinger, Dean, Drury College
1960
Building Basic Values
William L. Dunn, Dean, Lake Forest College
1961
Direction in Higher Education, Our Responsibility
H. B. Smith, Dean, Hardin Simmons University
1962
Unity and Diversity in Higher Education
Robert B. Kamm, Dean, Oklahoma State University
1963
The Campus Intellectual Climate
Ivan B. Stone, Dean, Beloit College
1964
The Role of the Academic Dean
Emerson Shuck, Dean, Ohio Wesleyan University
1965
Tomorrows Teachers and Professors: Our Responsibility
Alfred R. Neumann, Dean, University of Houston
1966
Campus Conflict and Confluence
Leo L. Nussbaum, Dean, Austin College
1967
Organizational Structures for Improved Intercommunications
Karl E. Limper, Dean, Miami University
1968
The Challenge of the Next Decade
Robert P. Ashley, Vice President, Ripon University
1969
Changing Roles in the Academic Community
Elsworth P. Woods, Dean, Drake University
Year
Theme
Chair
1970
Decision-Making on the Campus
Harold J. Haverkamp, Dean, Hanover College
1971
Accountability
Joe P. Harris, Dean, Southern Methodist University
1972
Achieving Academic Quality with Reduced Budgets
Robert H. Farber, Dean, DePauw University
1973
Evaluating Performance
William L. Stamey, Dean, Kansas State University
1974
New Pressures on the Dean
Dan T. Bedsole, Provost and Dean Austin College
1975
Problems and Potentialities of Lifelong Learning
Adrian H. Danne, Dean, University of Missouri, Rolla
1976
Faculty Development
C. Robert Haywood, Washburn University
1977
The Job of the Dean: Present and Future
Lawrence L. Graves, Dean, Texas Tech University
1978
Liberal Education vs. Career Education: Antagonists or
Bedfellows?
Thomas B. Brewer, Dean, East Carolina University
1979
Revising the Dean=s Sights of the Four R=s
A. L. Langvardt, Hastings College
1980
Academic Job Satisfaction Varieties and Values
Jane F. Earley, Dean, Mankato State University
1981
The Dean and the Students of the Eighties
Charles E. Martin, Vice President for Academic Affairs,
Mississippi College
1982
Funding Realities vs. Academic Quality
C. K. (Bud) Williamson, Dean, Miami University
1983
Qualities of Academic Leadership
William J. Watt, Dean, Washington and Lee University
1984
The Role of the Dean in the Search
James V. Reese, Dean,
for Educational Excellence
Stephen F. Austin State University
Education for the Twenty-First Century: The Professorate,
Curricula, and Applied Technology
George T. Tade, Dean, School of Fine Arts,
1986
The Deans and the Students of Tomorrow
John H. Wakeley, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences,
Memphis State University
1987
The Economics of Higher Education
John Churchill, Dean of the College and Vice President
for Academic Affairs, Hendrix College
1988
Higher Education and the Public Schools:
Allies or Antagonists?
Cal Ledbetter, Dean, Arts and Sciences,
Assessment in Higher Education:
E. Don Williams, Academic Dean,
Tool of Enhancement or Harassment?
Lubbock Christian College
1990
Keeping the Deans Human: Balancing Conflicting Demands
Lawrence A. Davis, Jr., Dean, Arts and Sciences,
University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff
1991
Endangered Species: The Dean in a Time of Transition
Don Looser, Vice President for Academic Affairs,
Houston Baptist University
1985
1989
Texas Christian University
University of Arkansas - Little Rock
Year
Theme
Chair
1992
Renewal Personal, Institutional, Intellectual:
Annette Chappell, Dean, Liberal Arts,
Passages in a Dean=s Life
Towson State University
1993
Preparing Administrators of Today
For University of Tomorrow
Dick Cording, Dean College of Liberal Arts,
Sam Houston State University
1994
Assessment in Higher Education: Path To Innovation
or Road to Conformity?
(last meeting at Oklahoma State University)
Glenn H. Bernet, Jr., Vice President of Academic Affairs
Evangel University (MO)
1995
Growing the College: From Faculty to Funds,
Wilkes Berry, Associate Provost
From Curricula to Culture
Texas Women’s University
(Meeting at the University of Memphis)
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Building Quality
Leonard Schulze, VPAA and Dean
(University of Memphis)
Texas Lutheran College
The Academic Dean as a Custodian of Credibility
Lamar Johanson, Dean, Arts & Sciences
(University of Memphis)
Tarleton State University (TX)
Changing Paradigms: From Teaching to Learning
Jeanine Varner, VPAA
(University of Memphis)
Oklahoma Christian University
Deans as Managers, Collaborators, Traitors: Addressing and
Managing Change
(Meeting at Texas Woman’s University)
Martin Johnson, Dean, College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences, Missouri Western State College (Texas
Woman's University)
Preserving Quality in the Academy
Bill Little, Vice President for Academic Affairs,
Texas Woman’s University
Southwest Baptist University
Renewing the Deanship: Clarifying Values, Strengthening
Outcomes
James O. Standley, Dean, College of Applied Arts and
Sciences, Stephen F. Austin State University
(University of Central Arkansas)
2002
Balancing Excellence and Access in Higher Education
Michael Westerfield, Provost, Rochester College (MI)
2003
Creative Solutions in Changing Academic Environments
Robert Houston, Vice President for Academic Affairs,
Henderson State University
2004
Enhancing Quality with Limited Resources
Colleen Durrington, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences,
Abilene Christian University
2005
Developing and Evaluating The Dean
Lorene Stone, Dean, College of Humanities and Public
Affairs, Missouri State University
2006
Instructional Technology for Today’s Students
Jeff Arrington, Assistant Provost for Student Learning,
Abilene Christian University
2007
Building Bridges, Building Teams: Issues of
Change for Academic Leaders
Hal W. Fulmer, Associate Provost/Dean of
Undergraduate Studies, Troy University
Year
Theme
2008
Emerging Challenges in the Academy
2009
The Promotion of Quality Within and
Jimmy Ishee, Dean, College of Health Sciences
Beyond Campus Borders
Texas Woman’s University
Sustainability In The Academy:
John M. Peek, Provost and Senior Vice President
Best Practices for Deans
Glenville State College, West Virginia
The Dean’s Role: Responsibilities, Rewards, Renewal
Bette Midgarden, VPAA
2010
2011
Chair
Travis Thompson, Dean, College of Sciences
Harding University
Minnesota State University, Moorhead
2012
Leadership in the 21st Century
Ed Ericson, VPAA John Brown University and
Sherilyn Emberton, Provost and VPAA East Texas Baptist
University
2013
Leading with Integrity and Accountability
James Machell, Dean, College of Education and
Professional Studies, University of Central Oklahoma
2014
Dealing with an Era of Change in Communication
Co-chairs: Katherine Krieg, Dean, School of Arts, Sciences
& Health professions, Our Lady of the Lake College and
Merribeth Bruning, Dean, Huckabee School of Education,
Ouachita Baptist University
And Regulation
2015
Making Connections, Building Partnerships
Judy Fellows, Associate Dean, College of Health &
Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Louisiana at
Monroe
2016
Meeting the Needs of Today’s Students
Co-chairs: Chris Boyett, Vice Chancellor, Arkansas State
University-Heber Springs and Roger Schultz, Dean,
College of Arts & Sciences, Liberty Univesrity