Joseph Keferl named dean of the College of Education and Human Services

Joseph Keferl, a longtime Wright State professor, administrator and alumnus, will assume the position of dean in January and will begin serving as dean-elect in October.

Joseph Keferl, associate dean for academic affairs and research at Wright State’s College of Education and Human Services, has been selected as the college’s next dean.

Keferl’s appointment will be effective Jan. 1, 2016, and he will begin serving as dean-elect Oct. 1, 2015, to facilitate his transition.

After 14 years as a teacher, researcher and administrator at the college, Keferl possesses the leadership, experience and vision that will advance the mission of the college and the university, said Wright State President David R. Hopkins.

“Dr. Keferl is committed to harnessing and supporting the full talents of faculty and staff and seeking opportunities to elevate and reward excellence from them,” Hopkins said. “He also has the ability to recognize and take action in developing new opportunities with partners and businesses and embraces the responsibility of being a change agent for our communities.”

From 2001 to 2012, Keferl coordinated graduate programs in rehabilitation counseling, taught courses in rehabilitation counseling in addictions, supervised clinical practicum and internship experiences and conducted research in addiction, employment of people with disabilities and ethics.

He was named Educator of the Year by the National Council of Rehabilitation Education in 2012, Wright State University Advisor of the Year in 2012, and Wright State University Graduate School Alumni of the Year in 2015.

Keferl obtained his bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation services-mental health from Wright State, his master’s degrees in rehabilitation counseling-severe disability and rehabilitation counseling-chem dependency from Wright State and his doctorate in rehabilitation from Southern Illinois University.

“I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the dedicated efforts of Dr. Charlotte Harris, who has served as chair of the Department of Teacher Education, associate dean and dean at Wright State University,” Hopkins said.