An interim dean for the College of Education will help guide the college through its proposed combination with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, Provost Ben Allen announced Tuesday.

Jerry Thomas, professor and chairman of health and human performance, will replace the current dean, Walter Gmelch, who is leaving Iowa State July 31 for a position at the University of San Francisco.

“Dr. Thomas is a nationally renowned scholar. He has provided excellent leadership for the department of health and human performance, and has provided a significant service to the university,” Allen said.

Thomas has been serving as interim associate dean of research and graduate education and is also a member of the planning committee dealing with the combination of the colleges.

“He’s up to speed on the issues because he’s a key player on that committee,” Allen said.

Allen said there was a number of reasons he picked Thomas as the interim dean, including his experience as an administrator both at Iowa State and other universities, his status as a top scholar in his field, and the amount of work he’s done on various committees throughout Iowa State.

“That leads to good exposure to faculty and staff members on campus,” Allen said. “You create good credibility that way.”

Allen said he began the search for an interim dean in April, when he approached the leadership team in the College of Education, headed by Gmelch. There were many recommendations, he said, but Thomas’ name stood out.

Thomas said Allen was looking for someone with enough administrative experience to guide the college while it was in the process of combining with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. It was not clear if there would be a new dean in place before the combination deadline of July 2005, he said.

Allen said Thomas has all the necessary skills to help guide the combination of the colleges, with help from College of FCS Interim Dean Pam White.

Thomas came to Iowa State in 1998 after serving in various administrative positions at Arizona State University.

In his area, researching motor control skills in children, he is a recognized scholar, he said.

Both Thomas and Allen said they enjoyed working with Gmelch and that he has been an asset to Iowa State.

“I think if you look at the contribution to the college and the university since [Gmelch] arrived, the record speaks for itself,” Allen said.

Gmelch created a climate and culture of motivation, support, and service, he said, a legacy that Thomas can continue.