Interim Dean of the College of Natural Sciences Named at Colorado State University

Jan Nerger, a longtime professor and administrator at Colorado State University, has been named to the position of interim dean of the College of Natural Sciences, effective immediately. For the past six years, Nerger has served as associate dean for Undergraduate Studies in the College of Natural Sciences.

Nerger has a comprehensive understanding of the College, said Interim Provost Rick Miranda. "She has maintained a healthy research program as a professor of psychology and has continued to teach classes there. She is also an active contributor to the Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Neuroscience program."

Nerger has been at Colorado State for the past 19 years, beginning as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology. In 2002, Nerger became associate dean, where she has been responsible for undergraduate curriculum, reviews of the departmental budgets and management of enrollment growth funds. She has been active in the college strategic planning and implementation efforts and is co-founder of the Women in Natural Sciences faculty group.

"This is a particularly challenging time for the university, and I look forward to providing the leadership for the college. I believe in a leadership style that is open and collaborative to support a broad vision and high standards," Nerger said.

Nerger will succeed Dean Rick Miranda and Acting Dean Jim Sites who chaired the search committee. "Jan has a long history of service to the university and has spent the past six plus years as associate dean for Undergraduate Studies," Sites said.  

Nerger received her Ph.D in Experimental Psychology from the University of California-San Diego in 1988. Her research is aimed at identifying the neural mechanisms underlying human color perception.  

The College of Natural Sciences is comprised of eight departments with more than 3,200 undergraduate and 600 graduate students.

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