MUNCIE, Ind. - James Ruebel, professor and honors educator at Iowa State University, has been named dean of the Honors College at Ball State University.

Ruebel is professor of classics and history and is former chair of Iowa State’s foreign languages and literature department. He currently chairs the Honors Committee in liberal arts and sciences.

Ruebel’s involvement with honors education includes teaching honors courses, serving as faculty mentor in the Freshman Honors Program, creating honors section courses and assisting with the establishment of an honors semester program in Florence, Italy.

"I’m looking forward to going into such an active and vigorous organization," said Ruebel. "This opportunity offers the next level up commitment to the kind of teaching I like to do."

Following a national search, Ruebel replaces interim dean Arno Wittig, a retired Ball State psychology professor. Wittig was appointed acting dean following the sudden death of Bruce Meyer in 1998.

Ruebel begins his new position July 1.

"Dr. Ruebel brings a strong background in classical studies and honors curriculum development to us," said Beverley Pitts, associate provost. "He also has a strong interest in technology and has developed study abroad programs for honors students. We believe he will provide great continuing leadership for Honors College."

Ruebel has been at Iowa State since 1978. Prior to that he was an assistant professor and director of graduate studies at the University of Minnesota.

He holds a doctorate and a master’s in classics and ancient history from the University of Cincinnati. He has a bachelor’s in classics and ancient history from Yale University.

He is author of Caesar and the Crisis of the Roman Aristocracy: A Civil War Reader (University of Oklahoma Press, 1994).

By Nancy Prater, Web Editor

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Pitts by e-mail at bpitts@bsu.edu or by phone at (765) 285-3716.)