KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- Although not new to the Truman State University campus, both Debra Kerby and Janet Gooch began their new duties as deans on Friday.

Kerby, who will head the School of Business, and Gooch who will oversee the School of Health Sciences and Education, were both selected for their new positions earlier this spring.

Kerby has been a member of the Truman faculty since 1982. She has served the School and University in many roles, including as interim head of the Division of Business and Accountancy in 1999-2000. Kerby has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Truman, as well as a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University and a Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Among her accomplishments at Truman, Kerby received the Walker and Doris Allen Fellowship for Faculty Excellence in 2004 and the Missouri Society of CPAs Outstanding Educator Award in 2009.

Gooch has a bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. in speech pathology from the University of Kansas, Kent State University and Case Western Reserve University respectively. A member of the Truman faculty since 1995, she has served as the chair of Communication Disorders since 2004, and was the interim director of the Ronald E. McNair Program for 2008-2009. In 2008, Gooch was the recipient of a Walker and Doris Allen Fellowship for Faculty Excellence and was also named the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor. In 2003 she received the William O’Donnell Lee Advising Award.

Kerby replaces Renee Wachter who earlier this year was named chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Gooch follows Sam Minner who earlier this year was named the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Radford University in Virginia.

Information provided by Truman State University