MACON – Mercer University President R. Kirby Godsey has announced the appointment of Carl R. Martray, Ph.D., as dean of Tift College of Education, effective July 1, 2003.
“Mercer is deeply committed to educating men and women who can meet the challenges of the highly-complex, vitally-important role of providing instruction and leadership to young people,” said Mercer President R. Kirby Godsey. “Dr. Martray brings outstanding academic leadership and credentials to this position. Our students and our programs will greatly benefit from having him here at Tift College of Education.”
With more than 1,400 students in undergraduate and graduate studies, Mercer University’s Tift College of Education prepares more teachers than any other private institution in Georgia. The College offers programs on Mercer’s Macon and Atlanta campuses as well as at the University’s three regional academic centers in Douglas County, Henry County and Eastman.
Martray currently serves as dean of the College of Education and Psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), a position he has held since 1998. Prior to joining the USM, he spent 27 years at Western Kentucky University, where he spent his last eight years as dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. Both institutions are the largest preparers of professional educators in their respective states.
With a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Fairmont State College, West Virginia, Martray holds a master’s degree and a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Alabama.
He began his career as principal and teacher at Colfax Elementary School in Marion County Schools, Fairmont, W.Va. During his studies at the University of Alabama from 1969 to 1971, he served as instructor of Educational Psychology and Research Design at the university as well as program evaluator for the Title IV programs in Central and Northwest Alabama. He was also an instructor in the Psychology Department at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
As a charter member of the Kentucky Educational Professional Standards Board, Martray was involved in setting policy and determining direction for the education profession in Kentucky. He also served two terms on the American Association for Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE) Joint Governmental Relations Committee, where he helped influence national policy pertaining to teacher education.
A member of the editorial board of Psychology, A Journal of Human Behavior for more than 10 years, he served seven years on the editorial board of Journal of Human Behavior and Learning and three years as consulting editor for People and Education: The Human Side of Schools.
He is a frequent presenter and panelist at educational conferences and the author of numerous publications and professional journals.
Additionally, he has been a staff development consultant to teachers and administrators in more than 20 public and private school systems.
He and his wife, Donna, who is a board certified operating room nurse, have two daughters: Lauri Turner of Bowling Green, Ky., and Nicole Talley of Birmingham, Ala. They also have a three-year-old grandson, Cole Turner.
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