SHSU NAMES PAYNE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Payne's selection was announced by Bobby K. Marks, SHSU president, who said that Payne is expected to begin his new duties Aug. 1. His employment is subject to approval by the SHSU board of regents. He will replace James E. Gilmore, who plans to retire.

"I am thrilled and delighted to be joining the Sam Houston State University family," said Payne. "I was extremely impressed on my visits with the quality of the university and its leadership. I look forward to becoming an active member of the Huntsville community."

Marks said that SHSU was fortunate to have attracted candidates with vice presidential experience in its national search process.

"Two of the four finalists were in either interim or permanent vice presidential positions, and Dr. Payne has served in that capacity since 1989," he said.

Marks said that he and others in the university community who interviewed Payne and the other finalists were impressed with Payne's interests and experience, especially in the area of applying technology to teaching, which Marks has made an emphasis of his administration.

"We felt like it was a real good fit," Marks said.

Among Payne's achievements at Emporia State was a campus computerization program which placed a fiber optic, networked computer on each faculty member's desk and created 12 student computer laboratories on campus.

Payne's other achievements at Emporia State included:

• Leadership in strategic planning activities including a two-year review of institutional mission, role and scope and a review of every academic program;

• Leadership in academic affairs affirmative action activities that more than doubled the number of minority faculty;

• Leadership in establishment of an extensive faculty development program including creating a teaching enhancement center, a center for tele-educational support services, a faculty mentoring program, a week-long new faculty orientation program, and a graduate teaching assistant training program;

• Leadership in development of a nationally-recognized outcomes assessment program;

• Leadership in establishment of a distance learning program.

His other university positions have included vice president for academic affairs and professor of sociology at Sangamon State University (1988-'89); dean of the College of Social Sciences and professor of sociology at Southeast Missouri State University (1982-'88); and American Council on Education fellowship in academic administration and coordinator of curriculum development at the University of New Orleans (1981-'82).

He has also held teaching positions at the University of North Dakota (1976-'82), the University of Iceland (1974-'75); and the University of Iowa (1972-'76).

Emporia State, with 5,361 students, is organized into four colleges which grant degrees in 35 undergraduate and 24 graduate areas including the doctorate. Sam Houston State University, with 12,564 students, also has four colleges, and grants degrees in 91 undergraduate, 76 graduate, and two doctoral programs.

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Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak