by Travis Hendryx, Office of Public Relations

Dr. Barbara Tucker has been named the new Dean of College of Education and Professional Studies at Sul Ross State University in an announcement Friday, July 12.

Tucker will begin her new position on Monday, July 22. She replaces Dr. Jim Case who served as interim Dean for the past year.

Dr. Tucker is currently the Chair of the Sul Ross Department of Education, a position she has held for the past three years.

In addition to her position of Associate Professor of Education in Counseling, Dr. Tucker also serves as the Coordinator for the Counseling Department (7 years).

She also served as Assistant Professor, Visiting Lecturer and Adjunct Professor of Education in Counseling.

Previously, Dr. Tucker was an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology at Midland College for two years and was a lead teacher and classroom instructor at Alpine Christian School (5 years).

Dr. Tucker also worked in multiple coordinator positions and quality management at Permian Basin Mental Health and Mental Retardation Community Services, Big Bend State Operated Community Services (11 years) and was a Disabilities Manager for Wilkin County Family Services in Breckenridge, Minnesota.

Dr. Tucker is a Qualified Mental Health Professional and a Licensed Social Worker. She is also an approved Iowa-testing Administrator.

Tucker received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work in 1993 from Moorhead State University (MN) and her Master’s Degree in Education from Sul Ross in 1997.

In 2012, Tucker earned her PhD in Philosophy in Psychology from Capella University (MN).

“I am extremely excited about serving in this new capacity at Sul Ross,” Dr. Tucker said.

“This has been a period of transition and I am confident that our faculty and leadership in each department will continue to collaborate as we move forward.”

As the newly announced Dean, one of Dr. Tucker’s goals is to expand her working relationship with other departments and expand Sul Ross relations internationally.

“I’m more of a hands-on person,” she said. “So I’m looking forward to working with and learning more about other departments in the college and how I can support their continued success and their programs.”