Two Colorado State University Administrators and Educators Named as College Deans

Colorado State University officials today announced the permanent appointment as college deans of two experienced and well-respected educators and administrators.

Ann Gill, current interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and Sandra Woods, interim dean of the College of Engineering, both will officially become deans of their colleges this summer.

"The quality of experience, leadership and vision shown by Ann Gill and Sandra Woods are strengthened only by their exceptional commitment and dedication to Colorado State University. Ann and Sandy each have achieved great success for their colleges throughout their tenures and have done a great deal to advance the university’s mission and goals," said Anthony Frank, senior vice president and provost at Colorado State University. "It is clear they both have earned the confidence of faculty and staff and have very strong support from within their colleges based on the quality of their leadership."

"At Colorado State, deans play a critical leadership role in achieving the missions and goals of the colleges as well as the university overall," said Larry Penley, president of Colorado State. "Ann Gill and Sandra Woods have the vision, experience and drive to take their respective colleges to the next level of excellence, to the benefit of the entire Colorado State University community."

Ann Gill, who served as associate dean before becoming interim dean in July 2005, joined the university in 1980 as an instructor in the Department of Speech Communication. She became assistant professor in 1986, associate professor two years later and a professor in 1994. She was named chair of the Department of Speech Communication in 1990 and served in that role until 2001.  

Gill also served as special assistant to the dean of liberal arts from 1999-2001 before being named associate dean of the College in 2001. She became interim dean when then-Dean Heather Hardy announced her move to the University of Reno-Nevada in 2005.

Gill received her bachelor’s in speech communication from Western State College in 1974, master’s in speech communication from Colorado State in 1976, juris doctor degree from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1979 and doctorate in speech communication from the University of Denver in 1986.

Her many honors include the Rocky Mountain Communication Association Distinguished Service Award in 2003, Qwest DEX Outstanding Educator Award in 2001, Eddy Honor’s Program Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2000, Alumni Association Best Teacher Award in 1998, Oliver Pennock Distinguished Service Award in 1995 and the Governing Board Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award in 1994.

In addition to many leadership positions in professional and academic associations, Gill was elected in 1990 as the first female president of the national Cross Examination Debate Association. At Colorado State, she has served as chair of the Commission on Women and Gender Equity, and she also has been involved in the Diversity Coordinating Committee and the NCAA Self-Study Committee.

Sandra Woods, a respected administrator, educator and researcher, joined Colorado State in 2001 as professor and head of civil engineering. Her service to the university includes serving on the Council of Deans, Diversity Coordinating Council, Commission on Women and Gender Equity and the College of Engineering Executive Committee. She served as interim vice provost from February 2004 through June 2005. In that role, she had responsibilities for the Graduate School, Office of International Programs and the Division of Continuing Education.

She came to Colorado State from Oregon State University, where she was a faculty member in the Department of Civil Engineering. During her 16 years at Oregon State, Woods also served as interim dean of Distance and Continuing Education and faculty associate to the provost.

Woods earned her bachelor’s in civil engineering from Michigan State University in 1976, her master’s in civil engineering from the University of Washington in 1980 and her doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Washington in 1985.

She serves on the Executive Committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers Department Heads. She has previously served on the Governor’s Task Force for the Oregon State of the Environment Report as well as on the Board of Directors for the Association of Environmental Engineering Professors and the Oregon Water Resources Research Institute.

Outside of higher education, Woods has worked as a consultant for General Electric and as a civil engineer for Olympic Associates in Seattle, Wash.; Giffels Associates in Southfield, Mich.; and G.J. McLravy and Sons in Lansing, Mich.

Her honors include the OSU College of Engineering Loyd Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Teaching, the Beaver Champion Award from the president of Oregon State University for leadership, the Association of Women in Science Fellow for the Oregon chapter.

-30-