Colorado State University Dean of Liberal Arts Announces Plans to Resign

The dean of Colorado State University’s College of Liberal Arts today announced plans to leave the university. Heather Hardy will be taking on a position as dean of a new liberal arts college at the University of Reno-Nevada.

"We are proud to have been the beneficiaries of Dr. Hardy’s leadership and, while we are very sorry to see her go, we wish her all the best," said Anthony Frank, senior vice president and interim provost at Colorado State University. "Heather leaves a track record of achievement that will help the college in years to come. She has helped to provide key direction to a college with a strong faculty and an unwavering commitment to student achievement. This clearly is an outstanding college of liberal arts with a bright future."

Frank added that he will work with Hardy and will soon appoint an interim dean for liberal arts while the university conducts a national search to find the best leadership for the college.

Since Hardy began as dean at Colorado State in July 2003, the College of Liberal Arts has witnessed many successes, including:

–     The completion and opening of the university’s Edna Rizley Griffin Concert Hall, the area’s newest performing arts venue, and phase I of multi-phase project to build the University Center for the Arts complex.

–     The establishment of the Stewart and Sheron Golden Endowed Chair in Liturgical Organ Studies. The endowed chair, made possible by a $1.5 million gift from Colorado State alumni Stewart and Sheron Golden, established one of the nation’s only liturgical, or church-style, organ studies programs at the university and was the first endowed chair for the College of Liberal Arts.

–     A $1.5 million gift to Colorado State University and the College of Liberal Arts from a group of community leaders in honor of William E. Morgan, president emeritus, to establish the William E. Morgan Endowed Chair in Liberal Arts.

–     A significant increase in the number of and funding for student scholarships.

–     Major progress on phase II construction of the University Center for the Arts Complex, including a new theatre and music performance facilities.

"This was a difficult decision. The new position represents an opportunity to provide leadership for a newly-formed College of Liberal Arts in a growing state with a robust economy and strong support for higher education," said Hardy. "Colorado State University is a fine institution. I have valued the time that I’ve spent here working with the administration and the excellent faculty and staff members in the College of Liberal Arts."

Before joining Colorado State, Hardy was professor and chair of the Department of English at Northern Illinois University. Prior to NIU, Hardy served as an associate professor of linguistics at the University of North Texas and as visiting assistant professor of linguistics at Rice University, the University of Texas at Arlington and Texas A&M. Throughout her career in higher education, Hardy has consistently been a leader for many department, college and university-level committees, councils and other administrative programs. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities and several other organizations.

Hardy earned a doctorate in linguistics from the University of California-Los Angeles in 1979 and a bachelor’s degree in both linguistics and English from Rice University in 1974. She is the principal compiler of the award-winning book, "Dictionary of the Alabama Language," which was prepared in collaboration with Cora Sylestine, native speaker of Alabama. She also is principal editor of the co-edited book, "The Native Languages of the Southeastern United States," and has two additional books in preparation.

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