Iowa State University
7-17-96

Contacts:
John Kozak, Provost, (515) 294-0070
Camilla Benbow, Psychology, (515) 294-0283
Steve Sullivan, News Service, (515) 294-3720

BENBOW NAMED INTERIM DEAN OF EDUCATION

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University Distinguished Professor of Psychology Camilla Benbow has been named interim dean of the ISU College of Education. The appointment will take effect on or before Aug. 1.

Benbow will serve as interim dean until a permanent dean is named following a national search. Norene Daly, who has served as Education dean since 1990, announced in June her intention to return to teaching.

"Camilla Benbow has a strong relationship with the College of Education through her internationally recognized research in the development of gifted children, especially in mathematics," said Provost John Kozak. "She is a respected scholar and an experienced and successful administrator."

Benbow was named a Distinguished Professor of Psychology in 1995 in recognition of her research. She co-directs the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY) and co-directs the Office of Precollegiate Programs for Talented and Gifted (OPPTAG).

She focuses her research efforts on a 50-year longitudinal study of intellectually talented students, which began in 1971 and now involves more than 6,000 individuals who will be studied throughout their adult lives. She directs research-based summer programs involving more than 400 students each year. She also directs the Iowa Talent Search, which serves more than 5,000 students each year. Benbow was the first recipient of the National Association for Gifted Education Early Scholar Award in 1985 and was inducted into Johns Hopkins University's Society of Scholars in May 1991.

Benbow graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1977 from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., with a B.S. in psychology. She also received a master's degree in psychology (1978), a master's degree in education of the gifted (1980) and a doctorate of education (1981) from Johns Hopkins University. In April, she was inducted into the Iowa Academy of Education as a charter member.

Benbow joined the ISU faculty in 1985. She was named chairperson of psychology in 1992.

An interim department chairperson for psychology will be named shortly, said Kozak.

-30-