January 16, 2008
Applied Sciences and Arts has new associate dean
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The new associate dean of the College of Applied Sciences and Arts at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a three-degree alumnus and inaugural director of the School of Architecture.
Terry A. Owens became associate dean Dec. 1. The appointment requires ratification by the Board of Trustees at its meeting on Thursday, Jan. 17.
"Terry is a natural for this position," said Dean Paul D. Sarvela. He said Owens has strong connections with the University from which he earned a trio of degrees and where he's invested many years on the faculty.
Owens said he's pleased to be working to advance and enhance all of the schools within the college.
"I'm going to be able to work in a broad spectrum of programming now," Owens said. "I hope I can help other programs at CASA move toward graduate programming."
Owens earned his associate degree in architecture technology at SIUC in 1980, followed by a bachelor of science in advanced technical studies in 1981 and a master's in education in 1984. He returned to his alma mater as assistant professor in 1986, becoming an associate professor five years later. Owens became chairman of the Department of Applied Arts in 1993. In 2005 the college reorganized from seven departments into four schools, with Owens as the first director of the new School of Architecture.
During his tenure at SIUC, Owens was instrumental in the installation of a $500,000 computer graphics facility at Quigley Hall, a joint project with the College of Liberal Arts, and he's had a significant role in the transference from associate to baccalaureate level-programs within CASA. More recently, with last summer's creation of the master of architecture program, he realized a goal he set when he became director of the architecture school.
Owens said he is anxious to work on behalf all of the schools at CASA – allied health, architecture, transportation, and information systems and applied technologies. He said already several health care programs and the fire service management programs are moving toward or considering graduate programs. With anticipation of funding for the Transportation Education Center, he expects the School of Transportation will also be developing some type of graduate program.
"Terry has done so much work to develop new programs and he knows what's required," Sarvela said. "He's familiar with our programs and development. He brings a wealth of experience to the table and he'll provide a lot of valuable insight. He certainly has the credentials."
"I'm a person who has the ability to take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves," Owens said. "I think as an administrator you have to be able to identify opportunities and take advantage of them for the benefit of programs and for overall improvement. Even if you don't accomplish everything you want as quickly as you intend, you have to use the opportunities to take major steps for the units you represent."
Sarvela also said in his new position Owens will address space issues. Owens said as CASA programs evolve, expand and reorganize, they're addressing needs for facility renovations and changes. For instance, he said Lindegren Hall is set for renovation in conjunction with the evolution of the physician assistant program into a master's level program. Meanwhile, a space trade is in the works with the College of Agricultural Sciences at Quigley Hall.
Owens and wife Brenda, natives of the central Illinois community of Auburn, have two sons. Zachary currently serves as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army while Matthew is a senior majoring in architecture at the University of Illinois Chicago.
Owens fills the vacancy created by the year-end retirement of Fred R. Isberner, associate dean since 1992. Isberner's career at SIUC began in 1979 as a visiting professor in the department of health education, followed by promotions to assistant professor, associate professor, professor and associate dean.
Jack Kremers is now the interim director of the School of Architecture. Kremers is head of the new master of architecture program and a professor at SIUC. He holds master's and bachelor's degrees in architecture from the University of Michigan.