West campus news Releases Archive

John Hepburn named dean of ASU's College of Human Services

Nov. 28, 2005

College 'will flourish' under Hepburn's direction, leadership

John Hepburn has been named dean of the College of Human Services at Arizona State University’s West campus. Hepburn has been serving the college as interim dean since June.

“Dr. Hepburn’s vision and three decades of experience are precisely what is needed to lead the College of Human Services,” said Mark Searle, ASU vice president and provost at the West campus. “I am confident that the college will flourish under his leadership.”

Hepburn has been with ASU’s Tempe campus as professor in the School of Justice and Social Inquiry since 1984, serving as director of the school from 1984 to 1990. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Iowa, his M.S. in Sociology from the University of Kentucky, and his B.A. in Sociology from Butler University, Indianapolis. 

As dean of the College of Human Services, Hepburn will provide strategic direction and oversight for the departments of Communication Studies, Criminal Justice and Criminology, Recreation and Tourism Management, and Social Work, as well as the university-wide gerontology program.

"The College of Human Services is poised perfectly to provide students with excellent educational opportunities," Hepburn said. "The faculty genuinely cares about the success of their students, and I am honored and privileged to have the opportunity to serve the college as dean."

Hepburn is a prolific researcher, having secured millions of dollars in research funding from federal, state and other competitive programs. His research projects have centered on law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities and the criminal judicial system.

Since 1975, Hepburn has served as a consultant for several institutions including the Center for Effective Public Policy, Silver Spring, Md., on the criminal justice system’s use of alternative sanctions; American Institutes for Research, Washington, D.C., for nationwide state correctional education survey; and the Arizona Prevention Center on substance abuse prevention community partnerships.

With a solid background in criminology, Hepburn has a strong interest in public safety. As dean of the College of Human Services, he will oversee the Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety located at the West campus. Established to improve the public’s safety through community-based solutions, the Center is currently engaged in several local, state and international research projects aimed at reducing violence. 

“The Center is a first class facility engaged in research issues that are relevant to our local community, said Hepburn. “Community safety is of significant interest to this university, and I’m looking forward to working with our faculty, staff and practitioners as they confront the urgent problems of violence.”

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