New dean hired at USF College of Marine Science

Posted Sep 14, 2010 by Lindsay Peterson

Updated Sep 14, 2010 at 02:17 PM

Jacqueline Eaby Dixon

The University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science has a new dean, underwater volcano specialist Jacqueline Eaby Dixon.

Dixon, acting dean of UM’s College of Arts and Sciences, is internationally recognized for her research on underwater volcanoes and deep water carbon dioxide systems.

She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stanford University and a doctorate from the California Institute of Technology.

“She brings to USF an impressive slate of scholarly credentials; experience in higher education leadership and a commitment to student success, interdisciplinary collaboration, and global engagement,” USF Provost Ralph Wilcox said in a USF news release today announcing the appointment.

Dixon said she sees “a tremendous opportunity to continue building an environment of research excellence within a uniquely supportive community

“The University of South Florida is on a steep trajectory and I’m excited about being a part of it.”

Her research has focused on how water and carbon dioxide affect the processes involved in volcanic eruptions and it’s taken her and her students to Hawaii, Iceland, the Galapagos, and underwater volcano ridges around the world.
 
At UM, Dixon started two new undergraduate programs: Ecosystem Science and Policy for environmental education and PRISM (Advanced Program for Integration of Science and Mathematics), which focused on recruiting top science students.

She is also on the steering committee for SEEDS (Scientists and Engineers Expanding Diversity and Success), a National Science Foundation and university-funded program to promote women and diversity in science.

She was the recipient of the Early Career Development award from the NSF for excellence in research and education.

Dixon begins on Jan 3, 2011. William Hogarth, who served as interim dean since 2008, will continue to serve as interim director of the Florida Institute of Oceanography, a consortium of 20 marine science colleges and institutes now heavily involved in research of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster.