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Contact: Todd Cohen, University Relations, (785) 864-8858.

KU names JoAnn Smith as Continuing Education dean

LAWRENCE --The University of Kansas has named JoAnn A. Smith, dean of the School of Continuing Education at Marywood University in Pennsylvania, as the new dean of Continuing Education at KU.

The Kansas City, Kan., native will succeed Robert Senecal, who is retiring June 30 after 21 years as dean.

"KU's Continuing Education is one of the finest university programs in the nation," Smith said. "I'm excited to be coming home to Kansas and to have the opportunity to work with Kansans to advance KU Continuing Education throughout the state, nationally and internationally."

KU's 110-year-old Continuing Education division serves thousands of Kansans each year through its academic and professional programs and distance education. Its statewide services include Continuing Education at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in Hutchinson, Kansas Fire Service Training based in Lawrence and the KU Public Management Center in Topeka. It employs 125 people and has a $12 million budget.

In the past year, KU Continuing Education offered more than 1,000 separate educational events to over 50,000 participants from every county in Kansas, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 42 countries.

"JoAnn's experience at Marywood and the University of Kentucky should serve her well at the University of Kansas," Provost David Shulenburger said in announcing Smith's selection. "The division has evolved into a very entrepreneurial and aggressive agency, and has positioned itself to act at the forefront of the rapidly changing distance and continuing education scenes. Dean Smith will find a wonderfully astute staff and excellent foundation with which to begin her tenure here."

Smith has extensive experience in leadership and development of continuing education. She is the recipient of many national awards. She has been dean at Marywood, an independent Catholic University in Scranton, Pa., since 1999. The university has 3,000 full-time, degree-seeking students, but enrolls 22,000 students through its continuing education programs. The School of Continuing Education includes professional continuing education, distance education and international programs.

Prior to her position at Marywood, Smith was at the University of Kentucky for 17 years, rising from director of business and industry training to associate dean for university extension. She has additional experience in corporate and professional training, marketing, and public relations.

Smith earned a doctorate in higher education policy studies and evaluation from the University of Kentucky, a master's in education from Vanderbilt University, and a bachelor's in communications from the University of Kentucky.

Her professional activities include memberships in the Association for Continuing Higher Education, University Continuing Education Association, American Society for Training and Development, Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, World Future Society, Association for Psychological Type, North American Association of Summer Sessions and the University College Designers Association.