San Diego State University Appoints New Dean for

College of Sciences

Nationally Renowned Microbial Expert Stanley Maloy Starts July 10

Contact: Lorena Nava
San Diego State University
Tel: (619) 594-3952 office; (619) 309-5179 cell
lnava@sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO – (Monday, May 22, 2006)– Stanley Maloy, Ph.D., current president of the American Society for Microbiology and director of San Diego State University's Center for Microbial Sciences, has been named dean of SDSU's College of Sciences, the university announced today.

"Stanley’s rich background in research and leadership are great assets that will help the College of Sciences become an even stronger force in research, education and service to the community," said SDSU President Stephen L. Weber.

Maloy will start his appointment as dean on July 10. He will oversee faculty, undergraduate and graduate programs, fund-raising efforts and community awareness of the college’s research and programs. The college has 28 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and nearly 4,800 students.

Maloy takes the helm of the college at a time when SDSU’s scientific capabilities and recognition are growing significantly. For example:

• Since 2002, SDSU has invested more than $70 million in new or upgraded science and research facilities, including the BioScience Center, the Coastal Waters Laboratory, the Chemical Sciences Laboratory and the Geology, Mathematics and Computer Science building.

• In March, the Carnegie Foundation reclassified SDSU as a “research university” with high research activity, placing SDSU in the top 200 universities nationwide. It is the only California State University campus with the classification.

• Earlier this year, SDSU became the first university in California to join the Oak Ridge Associated Universities Consortium, which leverages the scientific strength of 96 major research institutions to advance science and education by partnering with national laboratories, government agencies and private industry. Other new consortium partners include Carnegie Mellon University, Johns Hopkins University and Penn State University.

• During the 2004-05 academic year, the College of Sciences received more than $37 million for grant-funded research.

• The College of Sciences also has launched innovative interdisciplinary programs, such as the joint life sciences Ph.D/MBA program with the College of Business Administration, which prepares students for careers in the biotechnology field.

"This is a very exciting time for our college,” Maloy said. “My goals include building more interdisciplinary programs with other SDSU colleges and other universities, providing undergrads and graduate students with more opportunities to participate in research, and enhancing our overall research capabilities."

Maloy succeeds Tom Scott, now SDSU’s vice president of research. Patrick Papin, SDSU physics professor, served as interim dean.

While at SDSU, Maloy helped spearhead the development of the BioScience Center. Prior to joining SDSU, Maloy was the director of the Biotechnology Center at the University of Illinois in Urbana, where he was also professor of microbiology. Additionally, he has previously served as the co-director of the bacterial pathogenesis course at the Watson Graduate School at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York. Maloy received his Ph.D. in molecular biology and biochemistry from the University of California, Irvine.

Maloy’s research interests include bacterial genetics, phage biology, microbial physiology, microbial pathogenesis and genomics. Potential applications of his research and the research he supervises at the Center for Microbial Sciences include better detection and identification of bioterrorism agents, and finding new ways to fight problems ranging from antibiotic-resistant bacteria to food-borne illness.

The College of Sciences is composed of eight academic departments, including astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, geological sciences, mathematics and statistics, physics and psychology. Curricula are provided for pre-professional students in medicine, veterinary medicine and dentistry. SDSU’s sciences curriculum is enhanced by off-site research facilities, including the Mount Laguna Observatory and four biological research field stations comprising nearly 9,000 acres.

SDSU is the oldest and largest institution of higher education in the San Diego region. Founded in 1897, SDSU offers bachelor’s degrees in 81 areas, master’s degrees in 72 and doctorates in 16. SDSU’s nearly 33,000 students participate in academic curricula distinguished by direct faculty contact and an increasingly international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.

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