MISENHEIMER — Pfeiffer University has established the new School of Humanities, which will encompass undergraduate programs including liberal and fine arts and languages.

One of Pfeiffer's six professional schools, the newest addition is the university's most interdisciplinary and collaborative across all curricula and majors.

Dr. David Heckel, dean of the former School of Languages, Literature and Communication and Raymond Allen Jones Professor of English, was appointed to serve as dean of the new school.

A Pfeiffer faculty member since 1988, Heckel earned his bachelor's degree from the University of New Hampshire, and his master's and Ph.D. degrees from St. Louis University.

Because the liberal arts curriculum contributes to the overall educational mission of the university and develops the intellectual discipline needed in any business or profession, the new school was designed to provide an umbrella for all academic departments that are appropriately akin.

Pfeiffer administrators decided that strategically organizing the school as a central division was the best way to provide efficiency for the university's students, faculty and related programs.

"We are pleased to have someone with David's experience and compassion leading this new school and its faculty," said Dr. Tracy Espy, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Pfeiffer. "The School of Humanities is a common thread to all majors, and, as a result, it was necessary to realign some of our departments and programs to ensure we maintain the best interdisciplinary collaboration needed to effectively meet, and exceed, the academic needs of our students."

The School of Humanities comprises several departments, including the Department of Language and Literature, Department of Music and Fine Arts (which encompasses theater, art and music), Department of Communication Studies and the Department of History, Geography and Political Science. The school has approximately 130 majors and 20 full-time faculty.

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