Kansas State University

College of Human Ecology makes staffing changes

Submitted by Jane Marshall

Bill Meredith has been named associate dean of the College of Human Ecology at K-State.

Meredith, former director of the School of Family Studies and Human Services and currently interim head of the department of hospitality management and dietetics, joined K-State in 1999. His research focus is in the areas of family violence, family relationships in Asian cultures and adolescence. He teaches a senior seminar in the leadership studies minor.

His honors include the K-State Presidential Award for Outstanding Department Head. He received a master's degree from K-State and a master of social work and doctorate from the University of Nebraska. He worked with the University of Nebraska for 21 years as faculty, department head, associate dean and interim dean.

Dean Virginia Moxley announced three other appointments, all for two years:

• Shawna Jordan will be assistant dean for student support. She will continue as director of the athletic training program in the department of human nutrition. New responsibilities in the dean’s office include directing student services and the honors program, providing leadership for undergraduate research projects, managing the scholarship awards program and coordinating international programs and partnerships in the college. The assistant professor received her master's degree from the University of Kansas and a doctorate from K-State.
• Carol Kellett will serve as assessment director and continue her work as professor in family studies and human services. She earned her doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has worked with Central Missouri State University and California State University, Long Beach. She recently completed a history of the college. Kellett served as dean of the College of Human Ecology from 1998 to 2006.
• Maurice MacDonald will serve as scholarship and research director, continuing his duties as professor and director of the School of Family Studies and Human Services. He will advance scholarship and research initiatives, lead professional development opportunities, mentor faculty grant development, enhance opportunities and funding to support graduate students and develop collaborative partnerships on campus and with other organizations and institutions. His research interests include gerontology, socioeconomic resources and economic burden of  support for the oldest old, family economics and public policy, and financial literacy among college students. Before joining K-State in 2009, MacDonald served as professor and chair of human development and family studies at Iowa State University. He received his master's and doctorate at the University of Michigan.