April 18, 2005 – Susan Hammons

Director of international studies and programs named

NACOGDOCHES- Dr. Daniel P. Norton, director of international programs at Muskingum College, New Concord, Ohio, has been named director of international studies and programs at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Dr. Norton, also an assistant professor of modern languages at Muskingum, is scheduled to begin Sept. 1, pending approval by the Board of Regents. He will replace Dr. Leon Hallman, who is retiring in August.

"Dr. Hallman has done an outstanding job as founding director of the Office of International Studies and Programs," said Dr. Mary Cullinan, SFA provost and vice president for academic affairs. "Dr. Norton's expertise will help move the office to the next level of success. I feel certain that he will make a significant difference as we work to globalize the campus."

Norton earned a Ph.D. in English/Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages and composition from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Penn.; and a Master of Arts degree in applied linguistics/Teacher of English as a Second Language from the University of South Florida, Tampa. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of South Florida, where he graduated magna cum laude.

He has been at Muskingum College since August 2002 and has expanded both the study abroad program and the recruitment of international students, Cullinan said.

From 1999-2002, Norton was assistant professor of English at American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. He also has worked as a visiting English faculty member at Indiana University of Pennsylvania; an ESL faculty member at Northern Virginia Community College, program director and foreign student adviser for the English for International Students Program, Arlington, Va.; and an ESL and adjunct graduate faculty member at the University of South Florida.

Norton was among three finalists for the position. The other two were Greg Leonard of Beverly, Mass., who was vice president, marketing and public relations, and product manager with fsaATLAS (SEVIS software) Product Team in Cambridge, Mass., from September 2002-January 2005, and previously was director, International Students and Scholars Office, Boston University; and Dr. Alice Bier, executive director, Center for International Studies, Tulane University, New Orleans.