He’s only been here a few weeks, but Jay Graves, the new dean of the College of Health, knows he’d like to improve his facilities.
“We have a first-class faculty and first-class degree programs, but we don’t have the facilities. It’ll be one of our biggest challenges,” Graves said.
Coming to the U from Syracuse University in New York, Graves has served the past few years as associate dean for graduate studies, budget and research in their College of Education.
Originally a teacher and researcher, Graves spent seven years as chairman for Syracuse’s department of exercise science before becoming an associate dean.
“My career was taking me further into administration,” Graves said. “I was excited to come to the U because we have a great collection of programs.”
Former associates of Graves agreed he has the personality for the job.
“He’s very energetic and knowledgeable, he’ll make a great dean,” said Scott Powers, director of the center for exercise science at the University of Florida, Gainesville. “Clearly a very, very talented person.”
Graves and Powers worked together at Florida before Graves moved to Syracuse in 1993.
“He’s a very easy person to work with,” said Emily Roberts, acting dean of Syracuse’s College of Education, who worked directly with Graves before he came to Utah.
“He has a great personality, he’s cheerful, upbeat, supportive and was very helpful to me as interim dean,” she said.
Graves said he believes his background is perfectly suited to the position and the challenges facing the college.
With seven divisions and departments, the U College of Health is poised to become one of the top colleges of its kind in the country, he said.
But with departments spread out across campus in places like the Social and Behavioral Science Building, the Annex and Research Park, Graves said, “We don’t have the facilities at the present time to meet our aspirations.”
Understanding the budget restrictions of the U and the state Legislature, Graves acknowledges it will be his responsibility as dean to identify additional resources. “We’ll need a considerable amount of development work,” he said.
He said he plans to identify individuals in the community who support the goals of the program and are willing to help in a variety ways, especially with financial support.