The Petree College of Arts and Sciences has a new second in command.
Dr. Helen Gaudin recently was named the college’s associate dean after serving in the position on an interim basis since 2015.
Gaudin began serving as acting associate dean of Petree in August 2015 at the request of then-Interim Dean Amy Cataldi. After Cataldi accepted the dean’s position this spring, the permanent associate dean position became open. Dr. Gaudin applied and was hired for the position earlier this month.
Gaudin’s role as associate dean is to assist the dean in fulfilling the mission of the college.
“I look forward to serving with Dean Cataldi as she implements innovative academic programs and community engagement initiatives that are bringing new life into the college of arts and sciences,” Gaudin said.
Gaudin also assists with student, curricular, faculty, and staff matters to help the college function smoothly. She also teaches biochemistry through the biology department.
“Dr. Gaudin is brilliant, hardworking and nearly superhuman,” said Laura Jardine, cell and molecular biology junior. “We miss her constant presence in the biology department, but we’re so glad she chose to share her expertise and leadership with all of Petree.”
Gaudin joined the faculty in 2003 after being an adjunct professor at OCU for eight years.
She earned a Priddy Foundation Fellowship Award in 2008, was named a Distinguished Honors Professor in 2010 and served as chairwoman of the biology department from 2012-16.
Gaudin has a doctorate in microbiology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in biology and chemistry from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Before coming to OCU, she performed research in regulated gene expression at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and at the University of Washington in Seattle.
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