April 26, 2012

Dean named president of Western Association of Graduate Schools

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College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies Dean David Wittrock has been named president of the Western Association of Graduate Schools. He will serve a one-year term as president.

“Dean Wittrock is an excellent representative for the state of North Dakota,” said NDSU Provost Bruce Rafert. “His experience, vision and commitment to the research enterprise and graduate education make him an excellent leader for the association, which is dedicated to advanced education.”

The Western Association of Graduate Schools is an organization of university leaders whose purpose is to share information relating to graduate studies and research. Its mission is to improve education standards, encourage research and assist institutions embarking on graduate programs.

Members of the association are accredited institutions of higher education in the western United States, Canada and Pacific Rim that offer master’s and doctoral degrees. Western Association of Graduate Schools is a regional association affiliated with the U.S. Council of Graduate Schools and boasts 89 member institutions from 13 states and three Canadian provinces. 

As dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies, Wittrock is responsible for the administration of all graduate education activities and graduate interdisciplinary programs, supervising distance education activities and overseeing the College of University Studies. Under Wittrock's leadership, the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies at NDSU has attained Carnegie Foundation Comprehensive Doctoral Status.

Wittrock earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and his doctorate from the State University of New York at Albany. He earned his doctoral training in clinical psychology and has published more than 40 articles and book chapters on topics dealing with the interactions of stress and coping and the experiences of headache and pain. An employee of NDSU since 1989, Wittrock is a professor in the Department of Psychology. He was named dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies and Dean of University Studies in 2003.

NDSU is student focused and committed to its land-grant mission.

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