Paul Ferguson of Northeast Louisiana University has been chosen as dean of UNLV's Graduate College, UNLV President Carol C. Harter announced Thursday (May 20).
As graduate dean, Ferguson will oversee the university's 122 master's and 35 doctoral degree programs. He will begin work at UNLV in early August.
Ferguson, a professor of toxicology, has served as dean for graduate studies and research at Northeast Louisiana since 1993 when the post was created. In 1996 he added the duties of university vice provost.
"Paul's years of experience overseeing and enlarging the graduate program at Northeast Louisiana make him a good fit for our dean's job here at UNLV," Harter said. "As UNLV continues to increase the number of both master's and doctoral degrees offered, he will fill an important role in heading that effort on a day-to-day basis."
"Dr. Ferguson's strong research administration background, coupled with his university administration experience, made him a good choice for us," said UNLV Provost Douglas Ferraro.
At Northeast Louisiana, which is located in Monroe, Ferguson is a member of the president's cabinet, the president's administrative council, and the academic affairs executive council, and also serves as an ex officio member of both the graduate council and the research council.
He is a diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology and has produced 91 publications, including 31 articles and 44 abstracts.
Ferguson earned his doctoral degree in pharmacology and toxicology at the University of California, Davis, and his bachelor's degree in biology from Whittier College.
