Dr. Allen Ault, chief of the Special Projects Division of the National Institute of Corrections, U.S. Department of Justice, since 1997, has been named dean of the College of Justice & Safety at Eastern Kentucky University.

Ault will bring more than 30 years experience in the field to his new position, which he begins July 1. He succeeds Dr. Gary Cordner, who has announced his intention to return to teaching after six years as dean.

"Dr. Ault brings to our campus tremendous experience and outstanding credentials," said EKU President Joanne Glasser. "He was selected from among a distinguished group of candidates identified in an exhaustive national search, and he has the knowledge, experience and vision to lead our Program of Distinction to even greater levels of excellence and service." (In 1998, EKU's College of Justice & Safety was approved by the Council on Postsecondary Education as a Program of Distinction, resulting in an infusion of new state funds.)

He also has served as commissioner of state Departments of Corrections in Georgia, Colorado and Mississippi, was a warden of a maximum-security prison, and for 11 years was president of a national criminal justice consulting firm.

In addition, Ault chaired the Criminal Justice Department at Georgia State University from 1979 to 1981 after teaching at the University of Colorado for two years. From 1995 to 1997, he was chief of the National Academy of Corrections in Boulder, Colo.

Ault said he became more aware of EKU's College of Justice and Safety through the College's national videoconference series on juvenile justice issues. "Then, when I came to visit, I came to understand why the College has such an excellent national reputation. Because of an outstanding faculty and great facilities, this College is set to make great strides.

"I believe I possess the knowledge, skills and ability to provide the type of leadership and resources that will fully support the faculty and students in their quest for excellence."
Ault is looking forward to working again with students. "That's what I really enjoy," he said.

After earning a bachelor's degree in education from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta in 1961, Ault added a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling and a doctoral degree in counseling psychology from the University of Georgia. He has done post-doctoral work at Harvard University.

While with the National Institute of Corrections, Ault has been responsible for the development and administration of several innovative programs, including a program targeted at helping children of prisoners. Other programs deal with inmate mental health and substance abuse, women offenders, offender re-entry and training in corrections for Native Americans.

Ault chairs the National Construction Task Force on Correctional Facilities and the
State/Federal Committee of the American Correctional Association. Among many other honors, he received the Chief Executive Officer Award of Excellence from the American Correctional Association in 1994.

While many associate the College with police officer preparation, the reality is that the College is nationally unique in its comprehensive array of academic programs. About 1,300 students are enrolled in a wide variety of associate, baccalaureate and graduate degree programs in criminal justice and police studies, correctional and juvenile justice studies, loss prevention and safety, emergency medical care, assets protection and fire and safety engineering technology.