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A Kentucky State University dean was recently selected to serve on an ad hoc committee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Board of Trustees.

Dr. Pernella R. Deams, dean of student leadership, conduct, and wellness, was selected to serve on an ad hoc committee related to substantive change.

According to a letter from SACSCOC, the committee’s charge is to recommend to the board changes to the substantive change policy made necessary by the U.S. Department of Education’s new rules released in November.

According to the SACSCOC letter, each state in which SACSCOC has member institutions will one representative on the committee. Deams will represent the institutions in Kentucky.

Deams was also recently recognized by her alma mater, Southern University and A&M College in Louisiana, as a 40 Under 40 honoree. Deams and 39 other Southern alumni were recognized as the second cohort of the 40 Under 40 honorees.

Deams completed Bachelor of Science degrees in psychology and sociology while at Southern. Deams also earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi and a doctorate in counseling psychology from Tennessee State University. Deams has also completed the Women in Education Leadership program through the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, the American Council on Education (ACE) certification in effective college instruction, the New York University (NYU) Summer Faculty Resource Network program and is a fellow of the Iota Cohort of the Higher Education Leadership Foundation (HELF).