FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2007

CONTACT: Steve Dolan
(619) 594-5664
sdolan@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO, Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - Provost Nancy Marlin has announced that Joseph B. Shapiro has been appointed the new dean for San Diego State University's College of Extended Studies (CES).

Shapiro, who has worked in adult and continuing education for 30-plus years, has been the CES associate dean for the past five years. Prior to that, he worked for University of Maryland University College (UMUC)-Europe from 1984-2001 in multiple senior administrative positions, last serving as director of graduate and professional development programs, a position based in Heidelberg, Germany.

"I am very honored to have been appointed dean and look forward to expanding the services San Diego State University provides to the greater San Diego community through the College of Extended Studies," Shapiro said. "We want to expand on Dean Byxbee's accomplishments in reaching out and extending the resources of this great university to the people of San Diego and beyond, and to provide individuals and organizations with additional personal and professional education opportunities that improve quality of life and enhance our economy."

Dean William Byxbee, who has led CES since 2000, is retiring this summer to join his wife in the Washington, D.C. area.

"I have worked with Joe for a good number of years and I am delighted that he was chosen to continue the CES commitment to be the SDSU portal of opportunity for collaboration with businesses, education, government, and civil society," Byxbee said. "His knowledge of extended studies and his vast international experience will enable CES to continue to provide self-support education and training that enhances careers and transforms lives and organizations."

Shapiro was selected after a nationwide search by 12 members of the Dean's Selection Committee chosen from throughout the SDSU campus. His appointment was made by Provost Marlin and will become effective in July.

"I am delighted that Dr. Shapiro will serve as the next dean of the College of Extended Studies," the provost said. "Dr. Shapiro has decades of administrative experience in university self-support programs and has special expertise in international education, a major strength of SDSU. I look forward to his leadership and to working with him."

Shapiro earned a doctorate and a master of arts in education at Ball State University, specializing in the field of counseling. He worked for Ball State's University Stateside and European programs from 1976-82 as a program director in Europe and faculty member in both Indiana and Europe. He served as the graduate counseling program coordinator and faculty member for the Boston University Overseas programs from 1983-84 before working for UMUC-Europe.

While in Europe, he taught graduate courses in England, Germany, Greece, Holland, and Italy; was president of the European Branch-American Personnel and Guidance Association; and received Certificates of Commendation from the Department of Air Force and the Army Continuing Education System for a quarter century of service to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and the Department of Defense Dependent Schools overseas.

"One of our key goals is to create tomorrows' futures for individuals and organizations through high-quality adult and continuing education, professional development, and training programs," Shapiro said. "CES strives to create learning experiences that make an important difference in the lives of students. We want our students to come away from our courses and programs with more than the knowledge and skills they had hoped for - with a sense of 'WOW' - a sense that CES provided a great education/training experience!"

Shapiro was born in Manhattan and spent most of his childhood in Hewlett, New York. He and his British wife Vivienne met in Istanbul, married in Greece, lived in Heidelberg, and moved to San Diego five years ago with their son Benjamin, 8, and daughter Emily, 6. He has lived, worked and/or traveled in over 30 countries, given presentations in such international locations as Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Berlin, Bucharest, Budapest, Cairo, Rabat, Sofia, and Tunis, and speaks good German, passable French, and a smattering of Dutch, Greek, Italian, and Russian.

SDSU's College of Extended Studies offers a wide variety of lifelong learning classes, seminars, certificate programs, and SDSU undergraduate and graduate degrees. Career advancement courses are offered in many areas of management, leadership, and quality improvement while self-enrichment courses range from astronomy to web design. Additionally, the College offers over 35 certificate programs, online courses, and many other learning opportunities. To register or for more information, call (619) 265-SDSU (7378) or log on to www.NeverStopLearning.net.