Two Lander University administrators, who are also faculty members, are preparing to take on new responsibilities. University president Dr. Daniel Ball announced the appointment of Dr. Alice Taylor-Colbert, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, as associate vice president for Academic Affairs. Dr. Renee Love will fill the position Taylor-Colbert is relinquishing and serve as interim dean of the college. The two appointments become effective Aug. 15.
Ball said Taylor-Colbert will teach half time and perform duties including assisting with the project for reaccreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. She is also completing a provost fellowship sponsored by the American Academic Leadership Institute and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
Taylor-Colbert joined Lander in July of 2010 from the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith where she was chair of the Department of History, Geography, Political Science, Philosophy and Religious Studies. She received a bachelor's degree in English and history from Shorter College, now Shorter University, in Rome, Ga., and her master's and doctoral degrees in American studies from Emory University in Atlanta.
In addition to her responsibilities as dean, Taylor-Colbert is a professor of history. In her new position, she will continue to lead Lander programs including the American Democracy Project; the Student Academic Showcase; and the American Language and Culture Institute for international students, which she designed. She also serves as university sponsor of Greenwood-Lander Performing Arts.
Dr. Renee Love began her college teaching career 20 years ago while attending graduate school at North Carolina State University, where she obtained degrees in English and philosophy. After receiving a master's degree, she taught at Clemson University then obtained a doctorate in composition and rhetoric from Georgia State University.
She was hired to teach in Lander's English Department in 2004 and, three years later, she was appointed director of operations for Lander at the University Center of Greenville (UCG). Lander will discontinue its UCG affiliation at the end of the summer because of state budget cuts affecting the university's services and course offerings.
Much of Love's teaching focuses on topics related to composition instruction, service learning and best practices in college teaching and learning. She is also a regular contributor to the Greenville News and other publications.