Two Cameron University faculty members have been appointed as departmental chairs, while the responsibilities of a current departmental chair have been expanded to include another academic unit.
Dr. Shaun Calix, Associate Professor of Psychology, has been appointed Chair of the Department of Psychology, and Dr. Mike Husak, Professor of Biology, has been named Chair of the Department of Agriculture, Biology and Health Sciences. Dr. Stephanie Boss, Assistant Professor and Chair of the Department of Sports and Exercise Science, will also serve as Interim Chair of the Department of Education.
Calix’s appointment became effective on June 1. He fills the role of chair vacated by Dr. Mary Dzindolet, Professor of Psychology. Dzindolet will serve as chair of the Department of Social Sciences for the Fall 2020 semester.
After earning a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Missouri in 2013, Calix joined the CU faculty as an Assistant Professor in August 2013. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Alabama, and a Master of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Calix has taught a variety of upper-division classes in both the psychology and family studies curricula. In addition to his classroom responsibilities, he has been an active member of numerous university committees. He is presently concluding his term as Chair of Faculty Senate and continues to serve as Chair of the Curriculum Committee and the Family and Child Studies Assessment Committee. He is also a current or previous member of Cameron Council, the Faculty Committee, Academic Appeals, Intercollegiate Athletics, the Committee on Discrimination and Harassment, the Rules Committee, the Academic Standards and Policies Committee, the Long-Range Planning Committee, the Teaching and Learning Committee, and Lectures and Concerts Committee.
Additional university service includes serving as past faculty advisor to the Native American Student Association and to Cameron PRIDE.
In 2016, Calix received the Service Award from the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences.
Husak’s appointment as chair is effective August 1. He replaces Dr. Terry Conley, who stepped down from the administrative position. Husak earned a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences with an emphasis on Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Mississippi State University. He holds a Master of Science degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Angelo State University.
Since joining the CU faculty in August 2003, Husak has taught a multitude of upper and lower division classes. He serves as chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. In addition, he recently concluded a term as chair of the university’s Institutional Assessment Committee and as a Section Lead for CU’s Higher Learning Commission Assurance Argument Team. Previous university service includes participation in Faculty Senate, University Faculty Committee, Long-Range Planning Committee, Top 30 Courses Committee and department level committees. He has also served as campus manager for the Oklahoma-Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation.
In 2012, Husak received the Hackler Endowed Lectureship for Teaching Excellence Award, the university’s highest faculty honor. He has been inducted into the Cameron University Alumni Association Faculty Hall of Fame and has been the recipient of the Cameron University Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentoring Student Research, the Cameron University Faculty Award for Excellence in Service, and the Bhattacharya Endowed Lectureship for Excellence in Research.
Husak serves as the faculty advisor for the Psi Eta Chapter of Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society. He is an associate editor for “Southwestern Naturalist” and is a reviewer for numerous professional journals. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the Southwestern Association of Naturalists and has served in numerous leadership roles for the Oklahoma Academy of Science.
Boss joined the CU faculty as Chair, Department of Sports and Exercise Science in August 2011. She will become Interim Chair of the Department of Education on August 1. She served as Chair of the Department of Computing and Technology in Summer 2019 and Summer 2020.
Boss earned an Ed.D. from Walden University in 2015. She also has a Master of Education degree in Education Administration from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Her university service includes participation in numerous committees, including Student Persistence and Completion Committee, Lectures and Concerts, Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, Teaching and Learning Committee, Scholarship Committee, and more. She is an active member of the Oklahoma Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (OAHPERD), serving on numerous committees for that organization.
Boss was awarded CU’s B.H. & Flora Brewer Endowed Professorship in Instructional Technology in 2018. She has also been recognized with OAHPERD’s Honor Award.
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July 7, 2020
PR #20-097
