By ALEX HELMBRECHT, Director of College Relations
CHADRON – A familiar face has assumed the interim role of Dean of Professional Studies and Applied Sciences at Chadron State College. Dr. Margaret Crouse, who served as a dean at CSC from 1993 to 2002 and 2004 to 2015, will fill the role vacated by Dr. Jim Powell, who was recently named the college’s Vice President for Academic Affairs. Crouse’s first day at CSC was Monday.
“We’re very pleased Dr. Crouse has agreed to help us during this transition,” Powell said. “Her familiarity with Chadron State College, as well as her years of experience as Dean will help us tremendously.”
Powell said a search for a permanent Dean of Professional Studies and Applied Sciences will begin in the coming weeks.
Crouse retired from CSC in 2015 after 36 years of service, but has remained on campus part time, including assisting the college’s reaffirmation efforts with the Higher Learning Commission in 2017.
Crouse arrived at CSC as a home economics instructor in the fall of 1979. She completed her doctorate in home economics from Oklahoma State University during a sabbatical in 1984.
After 14 years in the classroom, Crouse became the Dean of Business and Applied Science. For nine years, she led teams responsible for planning the growth and development of the Rangeland Management program. After returning to the classroom for two years from 2002-04, Crouse began a second term as the Dean of Education, Health, Physical Education, Recreation/Sports Management, Psychology, Counseling & Social Work in 2004.
During her career, Crouse supervised several accreditation visits, and is also familiar with CSC’s current reaccreditation efforts with the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for the Education program. A CAEP peer review team will be on campus in April.