Crouch Appointed Interim Dean Of Liberal Arts

As a result of the recently announced appointment of Charles A. Johnson as senior associate vice president for research, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Karan L. Watson announced the appointment of Ben M. Crouch as interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts, effective Nov. 1.

Dr. Crouch has served the college as executive associate dean since 1992. In this role, he has maintained an excellent record of performance in responsibilities that include research administration and development, expanding the college’s built environment, and improving other infrastructure elements such as information technology.

After earning a Ph.D. in sociology from Southern Illinois University, Dr. Crouch joined the Texas A&M University faculty in 1971. He also holds a B.A. from Baylor University and M.A. from Texas Tech University. His long-term research and teaching interests are the sociology of corrections, crime, and delinquency. His research in these fields, and particularly on institutional corrections, has resulted in two books and many chapters and articles. He received the 1991 Outstanding Book Award from the American Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences for his book, An Appeal to Justice: Litigated Reform of Texas Prisons.

Dr. Crouch will serve as interim dean until the current national search for a dean of liberal arts is concluded. As interim dean, he will continue to advance the college’s priorities of building nationally prominent academic programs, enhancing a diverse learning environment for faculty and students, and extending the international reach of faculty and students.