MUNCIE, Ind. -- The acting dean of the Graduate School, Deborah W. Balogh, has been named dean of the school. She is a professor of psychological science.

"I am very pleased to have the opportunity to serve as dean of the Graduate School," Balogh said. "Ball State has so many outstanding graduate programs. It is an honor to be associated with the faculty and students in these programs."

Balogh joined the Ball State faculty in 1981. Since then she has established a record of involvement with graduate issues. In addition to her recent service as acting dean, she spent 12 years as coordinator of graduate studies in the Department of Psychological Science.

"As acting dean since July 1998, Dr. Balogh has brought visibility to the graduate school and has created new opportunities for graduate funding," said Associate Provost Beverley Pitts. "She brings to the job a superb record as a teacher and a scholar, working with graduate and undergraduate students."

Balogh said she intends to explore interdisciplinary graduate initiatives among departments. "One of my goals is to support and assist departments so that we are well-positioned to respond to emerging needs," she said.

Balogh graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Her research interests include adult psychopathology, personality disorders, schizophrenia and gender differences.

She co-authored with Patricia Keith-Spiegel, David Perkins, Bernard Whitley and Arno Wittig the book, "Ethics in Teaching," which analyzes the ethics of student-teacher and teacher-teacher relationships in and out of the workplace, now in its second printing.

Balogh said graduate education is integral to Ball State’s identity as a university. She said she hopes to increase assistantship stipends for students and expand efforts to identify ways to attract and serve international students and students in the workforce who return for graduate work.

"The more creative and flexible we can be, the better our chances of attracting the most qualified students," Balogh said.