TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ‚ Dr. James Princeton “Ike” Adams Jr., University of Alabama professor of social work and executive assistant to the provost, has been named dean of The UA School of Social Work.
Dr. Nancy Barrett, UA provost and vice president for academic affairs, announced the appointment, which will be effective August 15.
“Dr. Adams has a long and distinguished record of service in the area of social work education at the University level and at the state and national levels. We look forward to his taking the School forward in its teaching, research and service ventures,” said Barrett.
For the past two years, Adams has had the responsibility of heading the provost’s initiatives in the areas of student relations, academic planning, space for academic programs, coordination of the faculty handbook, and serving as liaison with University committees.
He has been a member of the UA School of Social Work since 1979 and has held every academic rank. In addition he served as assistant to the president from 1992 to 1997 and director of the UA Office of Economic and Community Affairs from 1993 to 1997. In 1997, he served for five months as a Presidential Fellow at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.
The author of numerous publications in the social work field, Adams research interests include family care giving and black family structure and functioning. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Tougaloo (Miss.) College, a master’s in social work at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and a Ph.D. in social work at the University of Minnesota.
Before joining UA, Adams worked in teaching and administrative positions at San Diego University, Delta State University, the University of Minnesota and Wyandanch (N.Y.) Community College.
Adams will fill the dean’s position currently held by Dr. Lucinda Roff, who is resigning as dean in August to return to full time teaching. Roff has been dean of social work since 1987 and a member of the UA faculty since 1974.
The University of Alabama School of Social Work was named one of the top 55 social work graduate programs in the country by U.S. News and World Report, spring 2000. Established in 1965, it is the state’s only comprehensive social work program of its type offering bachelors, master’s and Ph.D degrees. The school’s programs benefit citizens in all of Alabama’s 67 counties, due to its strong partnership with Alabama’s public social agencies.
Contact
Suzanne Dowling, 205/348-8324