April 1, 2005 – Susan Hammons

SFA names sciences, mathematics dean

NACOGDOCHES- Dr. Anthony Joseph Duben, chair of the computer science department at Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Mo., has been named dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Duben is scheduled to start Sept. 1. He will replace Dr. Thomas Atchison, who will retire at the end of August after 26 years at SFA and 16 years as dean.

“Dr. Duben was an outstanding candidate for the position,” said Dr. Mary Cullinan, SFA provost and vice president for academic affairs. “He brings strong leadership experience and a commitment to excellence in teaching and scholarship. I look forward very much to working with him.”

Duben was one of four finalists interviewed in February and March. Others were Dr. Roger Byrne, biology department chair, State University of New York at Fredonia; Dr. Jerry Stinner, department chair and professor of biology, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio; and Dr. Denise Battles, associate dean of faculty and research programs, Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Ga.

Duben earned a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry with a minor in mathematics from Marquette University, where he graduated summa cum laude.

He has worked at Southeast Missouri since 1983 and has chaired the computer science department since 1999. He oversees eight full-time faculty in the department, which has more 200 students majoring in one of two Bachelor of Science degrees: computer science and applied computer science.

Duben was associate dean of the College of Science and Technology from 1994-1999. He also has been a professor of computer science at the Missouri school since 1995, having previously been associate and assistant professor.

From 1992-1993, he was visiting associate professor at the Center for Molecular Design at Washington University, St. Louis. Other academic institutions where he has taught or conducted research include South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago State University, Triton College, St. Olaf College and Rutgers University. He also has worked at Methode Electronics in Chicago, Ill., and at UOP Inc. in Des Plaines, Ill.

Among honors he has received are being named a National Academy of Sciences Exchange Scientist, National Science Foundation Small College Faculty Awardee, National Science Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellow and International Association of Machinists Scholar.

Atchison, who came to SFA in 1979 to chair the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, may teach part time in the department after he retires.