Dr. Curt Lox, professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, has been named interim dean of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Education (SOE). Lox replaces Dr. Bette Bergeron, who resigned to assume duties as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Southern Connecticut State University.
Lox, who will officially begin his duties on June 16, brings 20 years of academic experience with 18 of those at SIUE. He joined the SOE faculty in 1996. During his tenure, he has provided significant service to the School and to the University in a number of different roles.
Lox has served as associate dean for the SOE from 2003-09 and as chair of Kinesiology and Health Education from 2009-present. He served on the Teaching Evaluation Task Force, Merit Plan Task Force, and the search committees for both associate dean and dean of the SOE. He most recently chaired the SOE’s Staffing Task Force.
“Dr. Lox’s experience and leadership at SIUE has been characterized by a positive approach to problem solving and a clear commitment to academic excellence,” said Dr. Ann Boyle, SIUE interim provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. “His leadership capabilities and experience will be important for the School of Education.
“During this interim period, we still need to meet the continuing challenges of a difficult fiscal environment and adjust our academic programming to meet emerging paradigms for learning and the evolving expectations of our students. The responsibilities are numerous, and I am pleased that Dr. Lox is willing to serve the School in this interim role.”
Lox’s research is focused on the psychological impact of exercise for special populations, including the elderly, overweight and obese children and adults, and individuals infected with HIV. His research articles have been published in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Journal of Cognitive Rehabilitation, International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, Journal of Health Psychology, and Rehabilitation Psychology among others. He is the co-author of The Psychology of Exercise: Integrating Theory and Practice, which is currently at press in its fourth edition.
He earned a doctorate in kinesiology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and his master’s from Miami (Ohio) University. He has worked as a sport psychology consultant with players and coaches at the interscholastic, intercollegiate and professional levels for more than 20 years. Lox currently serves as the sport psychologist for SIUE Intercollegiate Athletics and the United States Martial Arts Team.
Lox identified two things in particular, which will occupy his attention initially.
“First is the difficult task of preparing for an academic year with an unknown budget,” he said. “Second is ensuring that the School of Education is positioned well for our teacher education accreditation visit on campus in March 2015. We have a tradition of preparing exceptional schoolteachers and administrators, and this national accreditation is one indicator of the quality of our programs.
“While the School has enjoyed a strong local and regional reputation for many years, it has been exciting to witness this notoriety begin to spread nationwide,” Lox said. “It is certainly one of my goals to continue to promote the many accomplishments of our faculty, staff, and students.”
A search for the permanent dean will begin during the fall semester.
Photo: Dr. Curt Lox, interim dean of the SIUE School of Education.