Updated at 6:55 p.m. CDT May 5, 2005

Applying imagination and creativity to all areas of the new College of Human Sciences will be a key factor to its success, a candidate to become the dean of the college said Thursday.

In an open forum at the Memorial Union, Cheryl Achterberg, founding dean of the Schreyer Honors College at Penn. State University, spoke before an audience of more than 75 people that included students, alumni, faculty and staff.

The College of Human Sciences will be established July 1 with the consolidation of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences and the College of Education.

“I don’t have to offer today a set agenda or a ready-made set of solutions for this new college,” Achterberg said. “What I would offer is imagination, experience and a healthy perspective toward change.”

Although the word education will disappear from the new college’s name, Achterberg said under her direction, the College of Human Sciences will maintain a strong and healthy focus in education.

“I will try to define human sciences broadly, so that it incorporates education with its perspective,” she said. “This college will be about excellence and what you are doing will be all about excellence – growing excellence, developing excellence, delivering excellence.”

Larry Ebbers, professor of educational leadership and policy studies, said he believes Achterberg is well-rounded and will bring energy, creativity and thoughtful ideas to the College of Human Sciences.

“I think that she certainly has a background that blends across the colleges,” he said, adding that he was pleased to see her interest in education, as well as an interest in working with students. “She seemed very student-centered.”

Should she be selected as dean for the new college, Achterberg said she will strive to learn the culture and values of Iowa State, and will work to build upon the university’s strengths and accomplishments.

By founding the honors college at Penn. State, she said she has the experience and management skills needed to guide the successful launch of the new Human Sciences College at Iowa State.

“The goal should be to make [administration] as small as it can be, but as large as it needs to be to get the job done,” she said.

Management will be extremely important in the new college of Human Sciences, Achterberg said.

“Management should focus on adapting to the context of today’s history – the here and now – while keeping in view both the past and the future,” she said.

Leadership in the new college should be defined loosely, Achterberg said. As dean, she said she would ignite inspiration, aspiration, vision and thoughtfulness into the faculty, staff and students of the College of Human Sciences.

A question was raised during the forum inquiring as to whether Achterberg’s ability to lead the college would be hampered by her status as a female dean on campus.

“I don’t perceive any barriers with me working with this administration,” she said. “The fact I am a woman certainly does not intimidate me.”