For immediate release: March 19, 2007

BLOOMSBURG — Dianne Mark is the new dean of the College of Professional Studies at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.

Mark, who came to BU in early March, previously served as associate dean of the College of Education and Human Services at Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant. She was a faculty member at Central Michigan and at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa.

Considered an expert on the ways parents can help their children with homework, Mark was a teacher at the primary, secondary and university levels. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and master’s from Buffalo State College and another master’s and doctoral degrees from SUNY-Buffalo. Mark completed a certificate in management development from the Harvard Institutes for Higher Education and was one of 13 female participants in the American Council of Education’s National Leadership Forum in December 2004. She authored and co-authored articles on issues related to students of color and urban education and is co-author of the book, “Cultural Journey: Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults."

Mark said she was drawn to the position at Bloomsburg University by similarities between BU and Central Michigan University. Her college at Central Michigan consisted of five departments, three in education and two in human services. At Bloomsburg, she oversees a similar mix of programs, with approximately 70 faculty members in the departments of secondary education and educational studies, early childhood and elementary education, exceptionality programs, nursing, and audiology and speech pathology.

"Coming to BU was an opportunity for change and I always consider myself a lifelong learner," said Mark, who added that she was impressed by the beauty of the region while driving to the campus from Harrisburg.

She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of former dean Ann Lee.

Bloomsburg University is one of 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The university serves approximately 8,000 students, offering comprehensive programs of study in the colleges of Professional Studies, Business, Liberal Arts and Science and Technology.