03-24-04

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY EDUCATION DEAN ACCEPTS NEW POST IN CALIFORNIA

AMES, Iowa -- Walter Gmelch, who has served as dean of Iowa State's College of Education since 1998, has accepted aposition at the University of San Francisco effective this August.

Gmelch will become dean of the University of San Francisco's school of education. USF is a private, Jesuit Catholicuniversity with a student body of 8,000. Established in 1879, it is the city's oldest university, and is consistentlyranked among the most ethnically diverse universities in the country.

"Dean Gmelch has provided exceptional leadership for Iowa State's College of Education," said Ben Allen, vice presidentfor academic affairs and provost. "He has left a legacy here of which we can be very proud. Walt's departure will be aloss for ISU and the state of Iowa."

Under Gmelch's leadership, the College of Education has advanced in national stature, increased significantly inscholarly productivity and research funding, and has strengthened its commitment to diversity and internationaleducation.

Allen said he will appoint an interim dean early this summer.

Gmelch also co-directs the University Council for Educational Administration's national Center for Academic Leadershipat Iowa State. He cited a desire to return to family in San Francisco as a key factor in his decision to leave IowaState.

Gmelch and his wife, Paula, program coordinator for the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, both have family inthe Bay Area. Gmelch grew up in San Mateo, Calif. He earned his bachelor's degree from Stanford University, a master'sin business administration from the University of California at Berkeley, and a doctorate degree in the EducationalExecutive Program from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

"Our decision is based on family and roots," Gmelch said. "The years I have spent at Iowa State have been the very bestof my career, especially the last couple of years working with President Geoffroy, Provost Allen and a stellar collegeleadership team. But Paula and I came here six years ago knowing we'd someday return to the West. USF's core values ofaccess, equity and social justice in an urban educational setting are critical to me and what I'd like to do with mycareer. This is the last move I'd like to make."

Prior to joining Iowa State, Gmelch served as interim dean, professor and chair for educational leadership andcounseling psychology at Washington State University. He also had been executive vice president of General TransPacSystems, San Francisco, and president of General TransPac Systems' Airfreight division. Gmelch has conducted researchand written extensively on leadership, team development, conflict, and stress and time management.

Gmelch emphasized that his decision to join USF is not related to the proposed combination of the Education and Familyand Consumer Sciences colleges at Iowa State. He said he became involved in the USF search several months before thecollege combination was recommended.

However, Gmelch expressed deep frustration over the last four years of state budget cuts and what he sees as a loss ofcommitment within Iowa to K-12 and higher education.

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