UIS announces new Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Dr. Harry Berman, Provost at the University of Illinois at Springfield, has announced that Dr. James W. Ermatinger has been selected as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. His appointment is pending approval by the U of I Board of Trustees at its meeting on May 21. Dr. Ermatinger is expected to begin work at UIS on July 1.

Dr. Ermatinger is currently Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. He earned a Ph.D. in History from Indiana University in 1988 and has an extensive record of scholarship addressing the late Roman era.

“Dr. Ermatinger was selected for his ability to manage resources, increase enrollment and student retention, support department chairs, mentor faculty, and bolster diversity, all things he has done elsewhere in his career,” said Berman. “He also has experience in developing curriculum and reviewing faculty for tenure and promotion, both important tools for this position,” said Berman.

Prior administrative positions include serving as Chair of the History Department
at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Chair of the History Department at Lourdes College in Sylvania, Ohio. He also taught at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, NE.

UIS’ College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers majors in Biology (BS, MS), Chemistry (BS), Clinical Laboratory Science (BS), Communication (BA, MA), Computer Science (BS, MS), English (BA, MA), History (BA, MA), Liberal and Integrative Studies (MA), Liberal Studies (BA), Mathematical Sciences (BA), Philosophy (BA), Psychology (BA), Sociology/Anthropology (BA), and Visual Arts (BA).

The College also offers minors in African-American Studies, Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Communication, Computer Science, English, History, Mathematical Sciences, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, Visual Arts, and Women and Gender Studies.