Release Date: February 20, 2006

Jane T. Jakoubek

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Jane T. Jakoubek of Madison, Ind., has been named vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Monmouth College, President Mauri Ditzler announced today. She will begin her duties July 1.

Chosen from a field of 87 candidates in a nationwide search which began last September, Jakoubek was one of four finalists for the position. As Monmouth’s chief academic officer, she will provide leadership in all aspects of the college’s academic life, including curriculum design and implementation, faculty recruiting and development, information technology, library services, student internships, off-campus study and co-curricular programming.

Jakoubek, 55, holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She comes to Monmouth from Hanover College in Hanover, Ind., where she has served as vice president and dean of academic affairs since 1995.

"We believe that Dr. Jakoubek’s experience and credentials are an excellent fit for Monmouth College, particularly as we begin implementation of an ambitious new curriculum," President Ditzler said. "Her efforts at Hanover have helped establish it as one of the premier small private liberal arts colleges in the Midwest, and we are excited to be bringing someone of her energy and vision to Monmouth."

Jakoubek will succeed Rajkumar Ambrose, acting vice president and dean since 2004, whose leadership Ditzler praised: “Raj has worked tirelessly to ensure a seamless transition to our new curriculum, and has won the respect of colleagues for his attention to detail and wise counsel during a demanding interim period.”

A 1973 summa cum laude graduate of Franklin College of Indiana, Jakoubek earned both her master’s degree and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Arkansas. She taught psychology at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, from 1978 until 1995, becoming a full professor in 1992 and department head in 1993. She served as Luther’s associate dean and academic grants officer from 1989 until 1992 and was acting dean of the college during 1990-1991. She also directed a diversity project for the college, and served as both director of assessment and coordinator of strategic planning.

At Hanover, Jakoubek helped implement an intensive orientation program for first-year students, developed an interdisciplinary program for integrating writing and speaking into all courses, and oversaw creation of a Center for Business Preparation. She also developed semester-long study programs in several foreign countries and two U.S. cities, which tripled the number of students studying off campus.

She worked with Hanover faculty to enhance shared governance opportunities and leadership training. She was also active in strategic planning, including serving as liaison between science faculty and architect in planning and equipping the college’s new $22 million science center.

Jakoubek said she hopes to provide leadership in similar areas at Monmouth, including developing more off-campus opportunities for students, linking academic learning with vocational preparation, and helping students have more hands-on experiences—through service learning and research projects with professors, relating to their majors. She also looks forward to establishing additional development opportunities for faculty.

"Monmouth is a college on the move," Jakoubek said.  "The faculty is committed to teaching and is challenging itself and the students with an ambitious new curriculum. It is exciting to be joining a faculty, staff and board that is ready to build on this strong foundation by enhancing the academic opportunities that prepare students for the world beyond college."

Jakoubek and her husband, Charlie Cagle, a retired experimental psychology professor, have been married for 30 years. Their daughter, Sarah Jane, is in her first year of an MFA program in art at the University of Kentucky and is married to a food industry researcher and developer. Jakoubek says that all are passionate country dwellers and that she, herself, is an avid gardener and walker, an eclectic reader, and enjoys attending student performances, from fine arts to sports.

Released by the Office of College Communications
Barry McNamara, Associate Director of College Communications
Phone: 309-457-2117
Fax: 309-457-2330

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