I am pleased to share that Erik Porfeli will serve as interim dean of the College of Education and Human Ecology (EHE) beginning Jan. 1, 2026, pending approval by the Board of Trustees.
Dr. Porfeli currently serves as professor and chair of the college’s Department of Human Sciences. He will assume his new role after Dean Don Pope-Davis steps down at the end of the calendar year, following more than seven years of leadership and service. Dr. Porfeli’s interim appointment will run through June 2028.
Over the past several months, I have had the fortune of hearing from, and spending time with, many of EHE’s faculty, staff, alumni and friends regarding their high aspirations for the college and their ambitions for the role it must play in preparing educators, developing leaders and advancing human experiences. The strength of the EHE is especially critical for our state, and the college is a prime training ground for the teachers, education leaders, and practitioners in human-centered fields of health and well-being.
Dr. Porfeli is a highly regarded and respected leader with a proven track record of leadership. He shares our ambitions for EHE, and through my conversations with him, I am convinced that he is the right person to lead the college through this transitional moment. Under his leadership, the college will:
- Develop, articulate and advance a shared vision for the future of EHE and all its units, fostering academic excellence by reimagining undergraduate experience, incorporating artificial intelligence education into the curriculum, and strategically investing in promising and successful research areas and faculty.
- Ensure the college is at the forefront of curricular and pedagogical innovation in classrooms and online, providing opportunities for current and future educators in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state, and creating pathways for veterans exiting service and seeking opportunities in K-12 environments.
- Become a visible, committed advocate and ambassador in the state and nationally for the profession of teaching.
- Ensure the college’s academic programs provide positive learning experiences and social accountability to the community, facilitating the transition from student to professional through high-quality and innovative educational opportunities.
- Develop a financial sustainability plan to enhance the financial health of the college.
As chair of the Department of Human Sciences, Dr. Porfeli serves his academic community in our collective efforts to advance human health, well-being, development and economic vitality. His scholarship focuses on lifespan career development with an emphasis on childhood, adolescent and young adult periods. His research has appeared in numerous national and international academic journals and psychology handbooks. His community-based work engages partners at Ohio State and across the country to compose a healthcare workforce focused on eliminating community health disparities.
In addition to his leadership in EHE, he serves as the chair of the Board on Health and Human Sciences of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and as the chair of the Advancing Holistic Principles Committee for the Association of American Medical Colleges. In these roles, Dr. Porfeli is a leading voice and advocate for the health and human sciences and how they serve the interests of our nation.
Dr. Porfeli earned his PhD in human development and family studies from Pennsylvania State University, his MS in rehabilitation counseling from Kent State University, and his BS in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh.
Please join me in thanking and congratulating Dr. Porfeli for his commitment to serve as interim dean of the College of Education and Human Ecology. Please also join me once again in expressing our appreciation for Dean Pope-Davis and his service to the college. I have asked Dr. Porfeli and Dean Pope-Davis to work together to ensure that the time between now and the end of the year leads to as smooth a leadership transition as possible.
Ravi V. Bellamkonda
Executive Vice President and Provost