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Albany State University appoints four new deans

ALBANY – Albany State University has appointed new deans to the university’s leadership. The deans will fill positions in four of the university’s five colleges. The appointments are effective July 1.

“I am pleased to welcome four new deans to the university’s leadership team,” said Tau Kadhi, ASU provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We conducted a thorough national search and these final candidates displayed outstanding professionalism and dedication. I have the utmost confidence they are committed to ensuring a quality learning experience for all ASU students and the positive growth of the Albany community.”

Kadhi announced the following appointments:

  • Rani George, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities
  • Kerri Johnson, dean of the Darton College of Health Professions
  • Rhonda Porter, interim dean of the College of Education
  • Seyed Roosta, interim dean of the College of Sciences and Technology

George currently serves as interim dean of the College of Arts and Humanities and professor of statistics and research methods in the department of criminal justice. She previously served as a department chair, the dean of the ASU Graduate School, statistician/health planner at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany and assistant professor of psychology at Lady Doak College in Madurai, India. George received a Ph.D. in measurement, statistics and evaluation and a master’s in applied human development from the University of Delaware in Newark. She also received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology from the University of Madras in Chennai, India. George has several peer reviewed publications and has presented at national and international conferences. Her areas of research interests include HIV/AIDS, behavioral health among college students and school violence. George has co-authored several multi-year research grants, including the SAMHSA Minority AIDS Initiative funding for Minority Serving Institutions Partnerships with Community-Based Organizations and the SAMHSA Campus HIV/AIDS prevention program.

Johnson currently serves as interim dean of the Darton College of Health Professions. The College includes graduate and undergraduate degrees in health related fields and certificates in allied health disciplines. With service in the healthcare industry spanning 25 years, Johnson previously provided leadership as director of the physical therapist assistant program at Darton State College for 13 years. She received a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Temple University in Philadelphia and a master’s degree in physical therapy from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Johnson has extensive knowledge of curriculum design, career program accreditation, and proven methods for achieving high marks in program outcomes and student success. In 2013, she received national recognition as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year for Health Career Education. Johnson travels nationally as a consultant for career program accreditation and national board/licensure exam preparation.

Porter is currently the interim chair of the department of teacher education at Albany State University and a professor of mathematics education. A veteran in the education field, Porter previously worked as a teacher educator, a professor of mathematics and a high school educator. She received a Ph.D. in mathematics education and a master’s of Applied Mathematics from Auburn University in Alabama, where she was identified as a Holmes Scholar. She also received a master of education degree from Columbus State University in Georgia; a bachelor of science degree in mathematics education from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee and certification in educational leadership and administration from the University of Georgia. Porter has published articles and conducted several workshops and presentations in the areas of mathematics, mathematics education, assessment and budgeting. Porter is active in grant activity focusing on STEM education for under-represented populations, as well as, professional development for STEM faculty.  Most recently, she was appointed to the board of directors for the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

Roosta currently serves as the chair of the mathematics and computer science department and a professor of computer science. He has previously worked as a professor at other institutions. He has also served as a system analyst and project leader at serval organizations, including the National Iranian Oil Company and the Combine Factory, which is a branch of the John Deere Company. Roosta received a Ph.D. in operations research and computer science and a master’s degree in computer science from Iowa State University. He received a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Tehran University in Iran. Roosta has several peer reviewed publications and has presented research at national and international conferences. In addition, he has published two books in the computer science area, “Parallel Processing” and “Foundations of Programming Languages.” Roosta has served as the principal investigator and co-principal investigator for many university grants, including the STEM Education Improvement Grant and the HBCU-UP Implementation Grant.

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About Albany State University …
Albany State University, in Southwest Georgia, has been a catalyst for change in the region from its inception as the Albany Bible and Manual Training Institute to its designation as a university. Founded in 1903 to educate African-American youth, the university continues to fulfill its historic mission while also serving the educational needs of an increasingly diverse student population. A progressive institution, Albany State University seeks to foster the growth and development of the region, state and nation through teaching, research, creative expression and public service. Through its collaborative efforts, the university responds to the needs of all of its constituents and offers educational programs and service to improve the quality of life in Southwest Georgia. For more information, see http://www.asurams.edu. Follow the university on Twitter at @AlbanyStateUniv and on Facebook at Albany State University Official Page.