The chair of the Department of Counseling and Human Services at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and a retired U.S. Army colonel will be the interim dean of the university’s College of Education.
David Fenell, chair, Department of Counseling and Human Services, and a member of the faculty since 1984, will serve as dean beginning July 1 and continuing until June 30, 2011. His appointment was announced Tuesday by Peg Bacon, provost. A national search for the permanent dean will be conducted in 2010-11.
“David has provided outstanding leadership and service to the College of Education and the campus for many years,” Bacon said. “I appreciate his willingness to serve the college through this transition.”
Fenell replaces La Vonne Neal who recently accepted a position at the University of Northern Illinois.
Fenell teaches courses in individual, group and marriage, and family therapy. He is currently revising his family therapy textbook, “Counseling Families: An Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy.” His most recent publications and national presentations focus on effective counseling interventions for combat veterans and their families. He developed and directs a one-year intensive master’s degree program taught primarily by College of Education faculty to prepare Air Force Officers to assume command of cadet squadrons at the United States Air Force Academy.
A behavioral sciences officer in the Army Reserve, Fenell was mobilized in Oct. 2001, serving as the deputy and later director of the Psychological Applications Directorate, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.. In 2002, he was deployed to Afghanistan and served as the command psychologist, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan. He returned to the UCCS faculty in 2003. He was mobilized in 2006 and served with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, as command psychologist , Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula in Iraq. He was awarded the Bronze Star medal for each of his combat tours. Fenell returned to the university and retired from the Army in Jan.2007.
Fenell joined the UCCS faculty in 1984 as an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate professor in 1987 and professor in 1994. He earned a Ph.D. in counselor education from Purdue University, a master’s in education from the University of Southern California, and a bachelor’s in physiology from Oklahoma State University. He completed a post-doctoral internship in counseling psychology at Texas A&M University.
Congratulations Dad I am very proud of your accomplishment! Thank you for sending the link. Love your son Nathan
Hi, Dave —
Congratulations to you. Well done and thanks for giving back to our society. Hope to see you again soon.
Paul (AHS ’64)
Dave,
I am just blown away! What a great opportunity for you. I always knew you could take on giant tasks! I hope you have a great year and University of Colorado prospers.
See you at our 50th to hear all about it.
Karen
Hi Dave,
It is exciting to hear of your appointment as interim dean. You will bring to this new assignment a wide array of leadership skills, new ideas,and scholarship. Warm wishes and we are proud to be your publisher.
Stan Love, Publisher
Carrie Watterson, Senior Editor
The Air Force Core Values are: “Integrity first”, “Service before self”, “Excellence in all we do”.
And you exemplify them all so you will do an excellent job in the coming year!
Jacqueline Flanagan,LPC
Hey Dr. Dave, I loved reading this. Very impressive and well deserved. UCCS has chosen well. I’ll have to see that book you have written. I’m sure it is a great read.
Bravo!
“The Good Twin”
I am just wondering!?! Could this be the same David Fenell who used to throw a blanket over his head and then walk into a room full of adults convinced that no one would know he was there?
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
Congratulations David! What a great opportunity for you. UCCS is lucky to have your expertise.
So glad you will finally make it to Glenwood Friday.
Barb
David,
Congratulations on an outstanding career and for this latest position of trust.
Thanks for your service.
Take care,
Ron
Congratulations, David! You’ve served the country, the university, the department and a generation of graduate students magnificently. UCCS is very lucky to have you on board.
all good wishes to you on your new adventure.
Warm regards,
Gay Hendricks
PS, let’s also doff our hats to those two brilliant colleagues of yours who first interviewed you and passionately recommended your appointment. One was named Barry Weinhold but the other one’s name escapes me at the moment:)
Congrats David–you’ve worked really hard. As I recall when I was a graduate student back in 1988 you were the one that brought a lot of credibility to the department and raised the ethical and academic standards that in turn gave us more credibility when we left academia for the world of counseling. Because of what you gave to the department I felt that when I left the Counseling and Human Servies Program I did indeed have some skills and the training necessary to do the work I’m doing now. Jean Manthei, MA, LPC, CACIII