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Barron
Recommended As New Dean of EMS
May
1, 2002
From the Department of Public Information
 University
Park, Pa. --- Eric J. Barron, current director of Penn
State’s Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) Environment
Institute and distinguished professor of geosciences,
has been recommended as the new dean for the University’s
College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. His appointment
will be effective July 1, 2002 pending approval by the
Board of Trustees at their May 10 meeting.
Barron
will succeed John A. Dutton, who is retiring after 16
years at the helm of the college.
“After
an extensive national search, we’ve found the perfect
candidate to lead the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
from among its own distinguished faculty,” said
Rodney A. Erickson, executive vice president and provost
of the University. “People living in every corner
of the globe are affected by issues of materials, energy,
environment, and the earth sciences, and future professionals
in these disciplines demand the latest skills and knowledge
to better understand our planet and its resources for
the benefit of current and future generations.
“Eric’s
track record as an accomplished educator, researcher,
administrator, and internationally recognized scholar
uniquely qualify him to guide the college’s development
in the coming years,” added Erickson.
Barron
joined the Penn State faculty in 1986 as director of
the Earth System Science Center and associate professor
of geosciences. He earned the rank of professor in 1989,
and has directed the EMS Environment Institute—an
interdisciplinary environmental research catalyst at
Penn State—since 1998. During this period, he received
the EMS Wilson Awards for both teaching and research.
He came to Penn State after one year on the faculty
at the University of Miami. Prior to that, he was a
scientist in the climate section of the National Center
for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo. from 1981
to 1985.
As
dean, Barron will be charged with continuing the College’s
tradition of excellence as a national leader in the
earth and energy sciences and materials research and
education. Research expenditures in the College totaled
more than $42 million in 2000-01, and its academic programs
have been consistently positioned at or near the top
of most national rankings, including those by the National
Research Council and U.S. News and World Report.
Significant curricular and advising initiatives in recent
years have further boosted the quality of education
offered by the college.
Among these new programs is the EMS Environment Institute,
directed by Barron since its founding in 1998. The mission
of the institute is to promote interaction among faculty
and students with the diverse expertise needed to address
environmental issues. It is designed to act as a catalyst
for the college and University in environmental research,
provide leadership in new areas of innovative and interdisciplinary
research and education, and develop initiatives or centers
that focus on compelling scientific, social and engineering
issues and problems that require varied expertise.
In
addition to his contributions to Penn State, Barron’s
expertise in the areas of climate, environmental change
and oceanography, among other earth science topics,
has led to extensive service for the federal government
and international community. Since 1988, he has served
as a panelist or advisor for agencies including the
National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on various earth
science projects. Barron has been an active participant
in committees and panels of the National Research Council,
and currently serves as the chair of the Board on Atmospheric
Sciences and Climate. He also has testified before the
U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on topics such
as climate change, global warming, and budgeting for
NASA and NOAA.
Internationally,
Barron has worked on projects dealing with paleogeography
and paleoclimatology, and future climate change. His
work and research has contributed to more than 130 published
papers and 157 scientific abstracts.
Barron
earned a baccalaureate degree in geology from Florida
State University in 1973, and received master’s
(1976) and doctoral (1980) degrees in oceanography from
the University of Miami. He is a fellow of the American
Geophysical Union and the American Meteorological Society,
and is a member of the Geological Society of America
and the American Association for the Advancement of
Science.
*ptk*
Contact:
Tysen Kendig, Department of Public Information, (814)
865-7517 or tysen@psu.edu.
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