Erik Porfeli appointed interim dean of College of Education and Human Ecology

Erik Porfeli appointed interim dean of College of Education and Human Ecology

Human sciences chair to lead college and advance vision

The Ohio State University announced today that Erik Porfeli will serve as interim dean of the College of Education and Human Ecology (EHE) beginning Jan. 1, pending board approval. A professor in the college and chair of the Department of Human Sciences, Porfeli will serve as interim dean through June 2028.

"Over the past several months, I have had the fortune of hearing from, and spending time with, many of EHE's faculty, staff, alumni and friends on their high aspirations for the college in preparing educators, developing leaders and advancing human experiences," said Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda. "Dr. Porfeli is a highly regarded and respected leader with a proven track record of leadership. He shares our ambitions for his college, and through my conversations with him, I am convinced he is the right person to lead the college through this transitional moment."

Porfeli will assume leadership of an academic unit that plays an outsized role at the university and across the state. Through its faculty and academic programs, EHE is a prime training ground for Ohio's teachers, education leaders and practitioners in human-center fields of health and wellbeing. He steps into his new role following Don Pope-Davis, who is stepping down as dean at the end of Decemberfollowing more than seven years of leadership and service.

"I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as interim dean of the College of Education and Human Ecology," Porfeli said. "We are a highly successful academic community advancing health, education and economic prosperity in Ohio, across the nation and around the world. With the ongoing support of President Carter, Provost Bellamkonda, our alumni and workforce partners, we will continue to advance our mission, steward our resources and cultivate an innovative and rewarding academic community in our ongoing pursuit of excellence. I believe the future for EHE is bright and am thrilled to serve the college in this new role."

Under Porfeli's leadership, EHE will:

• Develop, articulate and advance a shared vision for the future of EHE and all of its units, fostering academic excellence by reimagining undergraduate experience, incorporating artificial intelligence education into the curriculum and strategically investing in promising and successful research areas and faculty.
• Ensure the college is at the forefront of curricular and pedagogical innovation in classrooms and online, providing opportunities for current and future educators in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state, and creating pathways for veterans exiting service and seeking opportunities in K-12 environments.
• Become a visible, committed advocate and ambassador in the state and nationally for the profession of teaching.
• Ensure the college's academic programs provide positive learning experiences and social accountability to the community, facilitating the transition from student to professional through high-quality and innovative educational opportunities.
• Develop a financial sustainability plan to enhance the financial health of the college.

As chair of the Department of Human Sciences, Porfeli serves his academic community in its collective efforts to advance human health, well-being, development, and economic vitality. His scholarship focuses on lifespan career development with an emphasis on childhood, adolescent and young adult periods. His research has appeared in numerous national and international academic journals and psychology handbooks. His community-based work engages partners at Ohio State and across the country to compose a healthcare workforce focused on eliminating community health disparities.

In addition to his leadership in EHE, he serves as the chair of the Board on Health and Human Sciences of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and as the chair of the Advancing Holistic Principles Committee for the Association of American Medical Colleges. In these roles, Dr. Porfeli is a leading voice and advocate for the health and human sciences and how they serve the interests of our nation.

Porfeli earned his PhD in human development and family studies from Pennsylvania State University, his MS in rehabilitation counseling from Kent State University, and his BS in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh.

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