BYU college names associate dean

PROVO — Dean David B. Magleby of the Brigham Young University College

of Family, Home and Social Sciences has announced the appointment of

Susan Sessions Rugh, BYU associate professor of American history, to a

three-year term as the new associate dean for the college.

      Rugh will replace Elaine Walton, who will be taking a

professional development leave of absence to BYU-Hawaii during the

upcoming academic year.

      "The college has greatly benefitted from Elaine's strong

leadership and wisdom," Magleby said. "Elaine has led by example in

keeping her research and teaching activities active while shouldering a

heavy administrative assignment, and she will be missed."

      As associate dean, Rugh will be primarily responsible for

curriculum, undergraduate and graduate teaching, advisement,

accreditation, assessment, the college writing initiative and other

matters.

      "Susan is a distinguished scholar and superb teacher," said

Magleby. Rugh has recently served as chairwoman of the Rank and Status

Committee for the college, and has been a member of numerous other

academic councils and advisory committees.Rugh received her Ph.D. in American history from the University of

Chicago in 1993. She began teaching at BYU in 1997 and has since

published two books and numerous articles on rural America and the

history of travel and tourism. Her article on Utah's promotion of

tourism published in the Western Historical Quarterly won the Michael

Malone Award from the Western Historical Association in 2007. Her most

recent book is "Are We There Yet? The Golden Age of American Family

Vacations" (University Press of Kansas, 2008).