News Release

UMSL names microbiologist new arts & sciences dean

	Ronald E. Yasbin

Ronald E. Yasbin, a noted microbiologist and former dean of the College of Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has been named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He will take over the post in August.

 “I am very excited about being part of a land-grant institution once again,” said Yasbin, who was a student and then faculty member at The Pennsylvania State University, one of the earliest land grant institutions in the country. “The challenges we face in the future will be better solved by large metropolitan land grant institutions such as UMSL.”

On a personal note, he added that he and his wife, Sherrill, look forward to living in St. Louis because of all that the region offers and because they will be a lot closer to their children and grandchildren.

Yasbin, a microbial geneticist, focuses on the evolution of bacteria and their adaptation to stressful environments. He came to UNLV as dean in 2003 from the University of Texas at Dallas and was a faculty member at the University of Maryland, the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in New York and Penn State.  
            
A native New Yorker, he earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Penn State, a master’s degree in genetics from Cornell University in New York and a doctoral degree in microbiology from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in New York.
Glen Cope, UMSL’s provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs, said she was looking forward to welcoming Yasbin to the campus in August.

 “Dr. Yasbin is an excellent scholar and administrator and a fine person who will be an asset to the university. I am very pleased to welcome him,” she said.

John Hylton, dean of UMSL’s College of Fine Arts and Communication, led the search for a new dean.

“I am delighted that Ron has accepted the position of dean of the College of Arts and Sciences,” said Hylton. “The college and the campus will benefit greatly from his scholarly and administrative experience, and his creative insights into situations and solutions.”

Teresa Thiel, a professor of molecular biology, has served as acting and then interim dean since January 2008.

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