Media Relations
Press Release:
MEDIA CONTACT: Kristine M. McGrath
561-297-1168, kmcgrath@fau.edu
FAU Names New Dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
BOCA RATON, FL (March 21, 2006) - Florida Atlantic University Provost John Pritchett named Dr. Gary Perry as the university’s new dean for the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. Responsible for overseeing FAU’s third largest college that houses more than 150 faculty members, nearly 45 degree programs and more than 3,200 students, Perry brings institutional knowledge, experience and expertise to the position.
“It will be my distinct privilege to lead the college through its next period of growth,” said Perry. “The college is poised to reach new levels and is pivotal to the success of FAU being a nationally recognized research university while maintaining excellence in teaching and service to the region.”
Perry joined FAU’s faculty 17 years ago as associate professor of neuroscience within the Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences and FAU’s department of psychology, and rose through the ranks through his tenure at the university, eventually being selected as senior associate dean for graduate studies and research. In 2005, Perry was named interim dean of graduate admissions and studies at FAU.
“There was a superb pool of candidates for this position; however, Gary’s outstanding academic background and demonstrated leadership skills made him an ideal fit for the College of Science,” said Pritchett. “His proven track record and significant support from our College of Science faculty and the university’s search committee set him apart from the others.”
Perry was selected from a large pool of candidates in a selection process that spanned nine months. He will begin his tenure as dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science no later than June 30. Perry earned his undergraduate degree in biochemistry and related sciences at the Royal Holloway College, University of London, Englefield Green, London, England. He received his Ph.D. in 1977 from the University of Manchester in Manchester, England.
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FAU’S Charles E. Schmidt College of Science is comprised of seven departments and six specialized research centers – Biological Sciences, Biomedical Science, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Geosciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physics, Psychology, Center for Geo-Information Sciences, Florida Center for Environmental Studies, Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology, and the Center for Cryptology and Information Security.
Florida Atlantic University opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the university serves 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses strategically located along 150 miles of Florida's southeastern coastline. Building on its rich tradition as a teaching university, with a world-class faculty, FAU hosts eight colleges - the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, and the Colleges of Business, Education, Engineering & Computer Science, and Architecture, Urban & Public Affairs.
