The University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Park campus has filled two associate dean positions so now each of the six academic colleges have full-time administrators to better serve the students.

According to a USM press release, before this academic year, only four colleges had full-time associate deans at the Long Beach campus. The associate dean of a college works directly with the department chairs and the deans of respective colleges. Now with six associate deans, the colleges and their faculty can do their best to meet the needs of the students.

“I am excited to welcome these new members of our academic leadership team, and I look forward to the contributions they will make as we continue to provide high quality academic programs to students in the coastal region,” said University President Rodney Bennett, according to a USM press release.

The four associate deans on the Gulf Park campus include the following: Bob Pauly, College of Arts & Letters; Elizabeth K. LaFleur, College of Business; W. Jeff Hinton, College of Education and Psychology; Stacey Hall, College of Health; Sandra Bishop, College of Nursing; Gregory Carter, College of Science and Technology.

According to the press release, the interim associate dean positions will be filled on a permanent basis in the coming months.