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Kurtz Named Dean of Ferris' College of Arts, Sciences and Education

Rick KurtzRick Kurtz has accepted an appointment as dean of Ferris State University’s College of Arts, Sciences and Education, effective July 1. The announcement was made by Fritz Erickson, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

“Dr. Kurtz has demonstrated significant accomplishments in new program initiatives and delivery methods and has been committed to enhancing teaching and research excellence,” Erickson said. “His leadership has led to the expansion of numerous programs and opportunities for collaboration, and we look forward to utilizing his expertise in these areas in the College of Arts, Sciences and Education.”

Kurtz was the associate dean for the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. His previous positions at CMU included professor and chair for the Political Science Department, chair of the Public Administration Council, director of the Master of Public Administration Program, and director of the Political Science Department Student Internship Program. In 2011, he was appointed as team leader of the newly-created School of Public Service and Global Citizenship.

Kurtz has served on numerous professional committees including most recently as chair of the College Academic Integrity Committee, chair of the Great Lakes Sustainable Systems Institute Working Group, co-chair of the University Sustainability Advisory Committee, and member of the University Senior Officer Leadership Team, University Community College Liaison Committee, University Academic Advisory Council, and Off-Campus Advisory Committee. He presently serves as a peer manuscript reviewer for the International Journal of Public Administration, The American Review of Public Administration and The Social Science Journal.

Outside of higher education, he has been a distinguished practitioner in federal government services providing expertise in policy analysis, program budgeting and implementation, community outreach, and interagency cooperative planning and partnerships for organizations including the USDA Agriculture Research Service, National Park Service (Alaska), and the U.S. Navy-Navy Reserve. Kurtz earned a doctoral degree in Political Science from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo.

“I would like to thank the many individuals who engaged in the on-campus interviews and provided feedback to the committee,” Erickson said. “I would also like to thank the search committee, including co-chairs Jeff Christafferson and Don Flickinger, for their efforts in leading this search. I hope everyone will join me this summer in congratulating and welcoming Dr. Kurtz to Ferris State University.”