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Final CHHS dean candidates make presentations

March 29, 2006

KALAMAZOO--The final two of four candidates for dean of Western Michigan University's College of Health and Human Services will be on campus this week and next week to make public presentations.

Each of the candidates have been asked to address the college's future. Both talks will take place in the CHHS Building on the Oakland Drive Campus, end with a question-and-answer session and be followed by a reception in the atrium.

The dates set for the public presentations are:

Thursday, March 30, Dr. David Shelledy, associate dean for academic and student affairs in the College of Health Related Professions at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 2:45 p.m. in Room 1024.

Monday, April 3, Dr. Charles Christiansen, professor and dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 1:45 p.m. in Room 1010.

WMU's College of Health and Human Services launched a national search this past summer to replace Dr. Janet I. Pisaneschi, who will retire in June.

The search committee is composed of representatives from local health organizations and WMU faculty, staff and administrators. Dr. Timothy Green, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, is heading the committee.

Additional information about the candidate presentations is available from Jeanine Bartholomew by calling (269) 387-3680.

David Shelledy has been associate dean at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences since 2004. He also serves as interim chairman of its Department of Laboratory Sciences and on its respiratory and surgical technologies faculty. Previously, he was chairman of the Department of Respiratory Care, which he founded, at the University of Texas Health Science Center from 1994 to 2004 and director of clinical education in the cardiopulmonary sciences area of the respiratory therapist program at the Athens (Ga.) Area Technical Institute from 1992 to 1994.

Shelledy has an extensive background in teaching, research, program development and patient care and has served in cardiopulmonary care administrative and teaching posts at Georgia State University and St. Petersburg Junior College. He has several awards and honors to his credit and has contributed to nine books as well as written or co-written more than 200 journal articles, abstracts and papers.

A past president of the American Association for Respiratory Care, Shelledy has been involved with numerous professional organizations. He earned a bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy from the University of Central Florida in 1974, a master's degree in vocational education: industrial technology education: health from the University of South Florida in 1983 and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Georgia State University in 1990.

Charles Christiansen has been professor and dean at University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston since 1993 and during this time has completed two rotations as provost/chief academic officer. He has a long history with the UT system, which he also served as a teacher and administrator from 1979 to 1989 and currently serves as the George T. Bryan Distinguished Professor and as an associate member of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Prior to his current appointments, Christiansen was professor and director of the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of British Columbia from 1989 to 1994. In addition, he has been an administrator and teacher at Texas Woman's University and a National Institutes of Health research associate through the Baylor College of Medicine, where he has earned post-doctoral certification.

A dual Canadian/U.S. citizen, Christiansen is the recipient of numerous awards and honors and has been active in a variety of professional and service organizations. He has edited or co-edited seven books and written or co-written dozens of journal articles, book chapters, papers and abstracts. He also is the founding editor of the Occupational Therapy Journal of Research. Christiansen earned a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy from the University of North Dakota in 1970, a master's degree in counseling psychology from Ball State University in 1974, and a doctor of education degree from the University of Houston in 1979.

Media contact: Jeanne Baron, (269) 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu

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