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Heilke, Bricke named interim leaders of International Programs

Thomas Heilke

Associate Dean Thomas Heilke and Assistant Dean Hodgie Bricke have been named interim associate vice provosts for international programs effective July 1, Senior Vice Provost Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett has announced.

A search for a permanent associate vice provost will begin at the start of the fall semester. The position was created by a restructuring of the Graduate School and the Office of International Programs in April. International programs, which includes the Office of Study Abroad, the Applied English Center and International Student and Scholar Services, will be led by the associate vice provosts, who will report directly to McCluskey-Fawcett.

Hodgie Bricke

During the interim period, Heilke will oversee faculty development and Bricke will oversee program development.

Heilke, a professor of political science, has been associate dean of international programs since 2003. He holds a doctorate from Duke University and studied at the Freie Universitaet Berlin and the Kirchliche Hochschule in Berlin. He has twice directed study abroad programs in several countries in Europe.

Bricke, assistant dean for international programs, has been with KU's international programs office since 1989. She coordinates direct exchanges for graduate students between KU and 10 partner universities and serves as the campus coordinator for the student Fulbright competition. Bricke was selected to participate in the Fulbright program for U.S. international education administrators to Germany in 1993 and to Japan in 2000.

KU international programs are often cited for their quality. In March, KU's Global Awareness Program received the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators award for Best Practices in International Programming. KU also ranked eighth in the nation in the recent "Open Doors Report," a survey of international education among public research universities. KU was one of five universities selected for the 2005 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization. In all, 394 students and 277 faculty have won Fulbright awards for international study.

Susan Gronbeck-Tedesco, director of the Office of Study Abroad, was initially named to the interim post but later declined in order to stay focused on study abroad in light of rapidly expanding opportunities created by federal initiatives and the university's goal to increase emphasis on study abroad.

"We understand Susan's decision and are fortunate to have individuals with Thomas and Hodgie's leadership and experience to step in," McCluskey-Fawcett said. "Both have demonstrated long-term commitment to excellence and expanding the quality and reach of KU international programs."

NOTABLE ALUMS

Scot Hein, who received architecture degrees from KU in 1979 and 1980, is the senior urban designer for the city of Vancouver, British Columbia. He is leading the design of the athletes village for the 2010 Olympics that will take place in Vancouver. Hein also teaches at the School of Community and Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia.