Psychology Prof tapped to lead USC Upstate University College
January 31, 2018
The next chapter in student services is unfolding at the University of South Carolina Upstate, and a distinguished educator at the University has been asked to lead the way.
Dr. Kim Purdy has been appointed as the dean of the University’s new University College, which unites many of the valuable academic programs and support services. The University College dean will report to the senior vice chancellor for academic affairs.
Purdy, an award-winning professor who holds a Ph.D. in experimental psychology, said she is looking forward to this new opportunity to help students succeed at the University.
“This is really an exciting opportunity, and I’m honored to have been chosen to lead the University College,” Purdy said. “At USC Upstate, we want to give each student every advantage not only in the classroom, but in the careers that follow graduation. And I look forward to working with the leaders of the programs that are a part of University College to ensure that we continue to put the students’ needs first in everything that we do.”
“Dr. Purdy brings a breadth and depth of experience working with multiple constituencies and in various roles that will serve her and the university well,” said Dr. Cliff Flyn, USC Upstate’s interim senior vice chancellor for academic affairs.
University College is USC Upstate’s new home for its academic support services, special academic programs, and international studies program. Purdy will be responsible for the Student Success Center, Honors Program, Center for International Studies, and the Service Learning and Civic Engagement Program. In addition, she will coordinate the University’s summer school and dual-enrollment programs, including the Scholars Academy, a specialized college program for gifted local high school students.
Purdy received her Ph.D. in 1998 from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and has worked at USC Upstate since 1998. She was appointed as chair of the Psychology Department in 2013 and her duties included budget management, recruitment of new students, transcript evaluation for transfer students, advising, graduation approvals, course scheduling, and staffing for psychology and Child Advocacy Studies.
Purdy is the recipient of several awards, including the Bank of America Excellence in Teaching and Advising Award in 2008, and the University of South Carolina Disability Advocate Award in 2003, and again in 2015 with her department.
About USC Upstate
USC Upstate offers more than 40 bachelor’s degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences, business administration, nursing, and teacher education, and master’s degrees in education, informatics, and nursing. Among the fastest-growing universities in South Carolina, USC Upstate is a diverse and dynamic community of 6,000 students from across the Upstate, 36 states, and 15 countries. As a leading metropolitan universities in the Southeast, USC Upstate has its main campus in Spartanburg, two locations in Greenville, and a growing number of programs online. The USC Upstate Spartans, which fields 17 varsity sports, compete on the NCAA Division I level as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference. Nearly 26,000 alumni have earned degrees from USC Upstate and approximately 85 percent choose to remain in the Upstate region to build their lives and careers, making a significant impact of the region’s economy and quality of life. Learn more at www.uscupstate.edu.
