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YSU Taps Texas Dean as New Provost
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Robert K. Herbert, dean of liberal arts at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Youngstown State University.Herbert, who also is a professor of sociology and anthropology at Stephen F. Austin, will start the new post on July 25. He replaces Tony Atwater, who resigned from YSU in January to become president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Bege Bowers, associate provost, has served as interim provost since Atwater's departure."Dr. Herbert has extensive professional experience, both as a faculty member and administrator, at public universities that are similar to YSU in many ways," said YSU President David C. Sweet. "We believe he is a good match for YSU and Youngstown and can help provide strong leadership not only on campus but in the community at large."Cynthia Anderson, YSU vice president for student affairs, chaired the 22-member search committee for the provost position, which reviewed more than 60 applications during a four-month period. She said Herbert was the committee's unanimous choice.Robert K. Herbert"Dr. Herbert has an exceptional record of scholarship, a strong focus on educational access in an urban area, a proven leadership record, and an advocacy for academics," Anderson said. "He is truly an outstanding individual."Herbert said he looks forward to his new position. "YSU has an outstanding faculty and staff, and I am genuinely excited about working with them as the university moves to the next level of excellence," he said.A native of Long Island, N.Y., Herbert received a bachelor's degree in linguistics from Queens College (City University of New York) in 1973, the first person in his family to receive a college degree. He earned a master's degree in linguistics from Ohio State University in 1974, a Ph.D. in linguistics from OSU in 1977 and a master's degree in higher education administration from the University of Michigan in 1982.He was an assistant professor of linguistics and phonetics at the University of Calgary in Canada and an assistant professor of linguistics and African languages at Michigan State University before joining the anthropology and linguistics faculty at the State University of New York in Binghamton in 1979. He was named chair of anthropology at SUNY Binghamton in 1996, a post he held until moving to his current position at SFA in 2001. He also was professor and head of African languages and linguistics at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 1992 to 1995.Herbert also has held visiting professorships at universities in Poland, South Africa and Denmark.At Stephen F. Austin University, he leads a college that includes 100 full-time faculty, six academic departments and five interdisciplinary programs offering bachelor's and master's degrees. He is responsible for SFA's School of Honors, the Office of International Studies and Programs, American English Language Institute, Stone Fort Museum, Center for East Texas Studies and various other units and organizations. Also at SFA, Herbert helped establish the Center for Academic Advising of Undecided Majors, the Office of International Studies and Programs and the "Pathways to Discovery" summer program for provisionally admitted students. He also led the faculty process to establish new academic programs in American studies, international studies, philosophy, creative writing, film studies and classical literary studies.Herbert has a long list of academic publications, honors, presentations, lectures, awards and grants. He also is the author of several children's books for language and reading development.Herbert is married to Dr. Barbara Nykiel-Herbert. They have two sons and a daughter."