Western Oregon University has named Eric Smaw associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Smaw, who joined the university in June, provides faculty across the college with the administrative support they need to succeed.
Smaw is a distinguished scholar and award-winning educator. He holds a doctorate in philosophy of law and human rights from the University of Kentucky, a master’s degree from Ohio University and a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University. He also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in international human rights at the University of Massachusetts and holds a doctor of humane letters from Hellenic American University.
“Western is fortunate to have Eric Smaw. His experience as a scholar, national leader and civil rights advocate gives him a rare perspective on what students need to thrive, and his vision for curriculum redesign will help our programs prepare graduates for meaningful careers and advanced study,” said Randi Storch, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “Our faculty, students and programs will be stronger for his leadership.”
Smaw’s research spans the philosophy of law, political philosophy, human rights, African philosophy, and clinical and medical ethics. His notable publications include “Uterus Collectors: The Case for Reproductive Justice for Minority Victims of Eugenics in the U.S.” and “God-Intoxicated Men and the Making of Miracles in Medicine.”
Beyond the classroom, Smaw is an accomplished administrator and civil rights advocate. He has held an American Council on Education Fellowship and a Mellon Academic Leaders Fellowship, and he has served on the national board of the American Civil Liberties Union and as president of the ACLU of Florida.
At Western, Smaw is focused on strategic planning and curriculum redesign. Strategic planning sets the university’s long-term priorities and aligns its operations, staff and financial resources with that vision. Smaw emphasizes the importance of curriculum redesign, especially since about 77 percent of Western alumni work in Oregon one year after graduation, so the university’s academic programs must continue to prepare students for the state’s workforce.
“I am looking forward to collaborating with the departments across the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to design intellectually transformative, workforce-responsive student success ecosystems, anchored by pathways that ensure a seamless transition from WOU to graduate school, law school, medical school, or gainful employment,” Smaw said.
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