Dr. Dee Haemmerlie Montgomery, Curators’ Teaching Professor of psychology, has been named interim chair of that department, effective Sept. 1, 2007. She succeeds Dr. Robert Montgomery, who is now the graduate coordinator for the psychology department.

A member of the UMR faculty since 1978, Montgomery most recently served for five years as associate dean for undergraduate affairs in the College of Arts and Sciences. She was named a Curators’ Teaching Professor in 1995, and in her 29-year career at UMR has taught more than 4,300 students, published or presented more than 150 research papers (including 55 with UMR students), earned nine Faculty Excellence Awards, and won more than 25 awards or letters of recognition for teaching.

The UMR psychology department has the highest percentage of female students of all UMR academic departments. It also is the 15th largest program in terms of total number of undergraduate students (out of 37 undergraduate degrees). The department offers bachelor of science and bachelor of arts degrees in psychology, certification in secondary education (both B.S. and B.A. degrees), five minors and three graduate certificates.

Montgomery will serve as interim chair until May 31, 2008. A search committee chaired by Dr. Larry Gragg, chair and Curators’ Teaching Professor of history and political science, is conducting a search for a permanent chair.