After more than two decades at Ohio University Southern, Dr. Miki Crawford still gets excited when faced with new endeavors.

“It’s going to be a wonderful learning experience for me,” Crawford said. “I have so much more to learn.”

Crawford began transitioning from professor of communication studies to interim associate dean in August and began working in that role on Jan. 1. The appointment is for two years, during which time a nationwide search for someone to fill the position permanently will take place.

Crawford can apply and be considered for the position.

She began at OUS as a nontraditional student and was already a mother and spent a year teaching in public school while earning her master’s degree at Marshall. She was offered a position at OUS working in the technology lab, where she worked until accepting a teaching position in communication studies in 2003. She earned the rank of full professor in 2003.

“While I enjoy teaching and working with students, the position of interim associate dean adds a new dimension to my career in higher education,” she said. “It’s a challenge and an opportunity for growth.”

Some of Crawford’s responsibilities as associate dean include scheduling courses, working with faculty and working with students on courses need for graduation.

“I am at the disposal of the dean,” she said.

Dr. Nicole Pennington, who was named OUS dean in 2014, praised Crawford for her dedication.

“She is passionate about serving the Southern campus,” Pennington said. “She will be committed to providing the highest level of academic leadership. We are very fortunate to have her in the role of associate dean.”

Crawford has served on the University Curriculum Council and the Regional Higher Education Curriculum Committee, as well as the Southern Curriculum Committee. In addition, she has served on the Program Review Committee, in which she chaired six program reviews including one bachelor’s degree and five associate degrees.

“She was the first campus coordinator and then regional coordinator of the first regional bachelor’s degree,” Pennington wrote in an email. “She served on Faculty Senate from 2003-2006 and as Faculty Senate Alternate from 2007-2014.”

Additional administrative experience includes her service as academic division coordinator from 2008-2012.

“Miki’s teaching excellence, research and service have been acknowledged through several awards,” Pennington said. “The most recent being the Regional Higher Education Outstanding Faculty Award in 2013.”

Crawford is a native of the Tri-State. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Ohio University in 1988 and her master’s degree in communication arts from Marshall in 1991. She earned her Ph.D. in higher education from Ohio University. She taught several communications courses and was coordinator of the technical and applied studies (TAS) program.

Crawford collaborated with Dr. Shizuko Suenga and Kaori Hayashi in 2006 to conduct research into Japanese War Brides, which culminated in the 2010 publication “Japanese War Brides in America: An Oral History.”

Crawford replaces Ella Jones, who voluntarily re-joined the faculty.