Dean to retire after 37 years at USU
After 37 years of working at USU, Carol Strong, dean of the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services (CEHS), is retiring.
Strong graduated from USU in 1971, with a bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology. She then went to the University of Illinois to earn a master’s degree, before returning to teach at USU in 1973.
Strong taught in the department of communicative disorders and deaf education. After a few years, she became the supervisor in the COMD clinic on campus.
Strong said she got into teaching because she loves working with people. Another reason was the schedule of a teacher.
“I had little kids at the time,” she said, “so having summers off was very appealing.”
Thirty-seven years later, she said she still loves it.
Strong has been the dean of the college since 2004.
“We have a wonderful college,” she said. “We are consistently in the top 2 percent of nearly 1,200 education programs around the country.”
Strong also praised the faculty.
“We have great faculty who attract great students,” she said.
USU community members have high thoughts of Strong, too.
USU President Stan Albrecht said, “Dr. Strong has been a respected voice among faculty and administrators for many years now. She is equally well-loved and respected by all of the students in her college. She has always been deeply passionate about her role as mentor and teacher to many students, even as one of our senior administrators. She knows their trials and triumphs.”
Erik Wynn, CEHS senator, said, “Dean Strong lives up well to her last name. She is a strong leader who leads with authority and respect.”
Strong has big plans for her retirement. Strong and her husband, Bill, who retired earlier this year, plan to travel around and be with family. Her mother lives in Portland, Ore. and she wants to spend more time with her.
“I’m lucky to still have my mother with me,” she said, “so I want to take advantage of it while I can.”
Strong said her family will continue to live in Logan.
“There is so much to take advantage of here,” she said. “Between the cultural events, athletics and the beauty of the valley, this is just a wonderful environment.”
In her time at USU, she has received many awards. Last fall, she was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Northern Utah Curriculum Consortium. In 1998, she received USU’s Professor of the Year Award. In 2000, she received the College of Education Researcher of the Year Award, and in 2001 she was named a Trustee Professor of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education, USU’s highest academic honor.
“This past year was an awesome one, being able to work with her and learn from her example,” Wynn said. “In this year’s CEHS awards ceremony, there was a solemn feeling in the auditorium as we recognized the amazing dean that is retiring and the wonderful friend who is leaving.”
Strong said, “It has been a real privilege and honor to serve this college.”
As her parting words of wisdom to students, Strong said, “Stay in school and get done. It is an investment in your future and in your children’s future.”
“To the new dean,” Wynn said, “you have a lot to live up to. Good luck!”
– megan.allen@aggiemail.usu.edu