The University of Alabama appointed three new deans this spring, two of whom are expected to assume their leadership roles this summer.

Brian S. Butler will begin his term as dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences on Friday, while Clifford L. Henderson will begin as dean of the College of Engineering on August 1.

Stacy L. Jones was named UA Dean of Students at the end of April, having served as Acting Dean of Students since August 2020.

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The retirement of Mark Nelson led to the hiring of Butler. Henderson will replace acting dean Ed Back, who on August 1 will resume his role as chair of the department of civil engineering, construction and the environment.

Butler comes to UA from the University of Maryland and Henderson comes to Tuscaloosa from the University of South Florida, while Jones had a nearly 30-year career at Capstone.

Here is an overview of the new UA Deans:

Brian S. Butler

As Senior Associate Dean at the University of Maryland, Butler led the hiring and development of the college’s senior leadership. He also helped create the college’s first undergraduate program, which is now the fourth largest on campus, and he oversaw the design and construction of the facility expansion that doubled the space available for the middle School.

“Dr. Butler has demonstrated exemplary leadership in overseeing the transformation and growth of the University of Maryland College of Information Studies,” said James Dalton, Executive Vice President and Provost of the UA, in a press release, “I look forward to seeing his vision for our College of Communication and Information Sciences come to life as the Dean of the College.”

Butler’s research interests include the development and modeling of online communities and social media systems, the interplay of power and information technology in organizations, and techniques for deploying complex information systems to support organizational performance, community resilience and individual well-being.

“The College of Communication and Information Sciences at the University of Alabama is nationally known for its life-changing educational programs and groundbreaking research, scholarship, and creative work “, Butler said. “At a time when communication and information are increasingly at the heart of how we work, live and who we are, I am delighted to join UA as Dean of the College and build on this tradition to develop the college’s reputation and impact as an international leader in these critical areas.

A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Butler earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science, as well as a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Information Systems.

Stacy L. Jones

Jones has served in a variety of roles providing services and support to UA students for over 28 years. As Dean of Students, she provides leadership for the departments of Student Conduct, Veterans and Military Affairs, Mentorship and Resilience, Student Care and Wellness, and Off-Campus Resources.

“The late Tom Strong, Dean Emeritus of Students, planted a seed in 2000 when I became a member of his team in the Office of Dean of Students at AU,” Jones said. “I hope every day that I have become the kind of servant leader that would make him proud.

“I will continue to honor his memory by serving the students and families of my beloved alma mater with honesty, compassion, integrity and kindness.”

She is an adjunct faculty member who has taught courses on freshman experience, leadership and social justice, and the history of Black Greek organizations.

Jones has been a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority for 35 years and serves the sorority at the local, state and regional levels. She is currently the president of the Tuscaloosa March for Babies and a member of the March of Dimes Alabama Market Board.

She has been involved in community service and has won numerous AU awards.

Jones received a bachelor’s degree in advertising, as well as a master’s and doctorate in higher education administration, all from AU.

Clifford L. Henderson

Henderson comes to UA after five years at the University of South Florida, where he was a professor and chair of the department of chemical, biological, and materials engineering. Prior to USF, Henderson spent more than 18 years at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

“Dr. Henderson was selected from a large, diverse and highly qualified pool of applicants from national and international organizations,” said Dalton, AU executive vice president and provost. “His academic experience as a teacher, researcher and collaborative leader at Georgia Tech and USF positions him as the ideal leader for our College of Engineering.”

At Georgia Tech, Henderson also served as a National Science Foundation expert and program director in the NSF Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation, where he led the Functional Materials Program and other related efforts.

He has published more than 200 papers related to his research, including more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, contributed to more than 400 abstracts and presentations at national and international conferences, and has been a principal investigator on more than 10 million funding dollars from a various federal agencies.

Henderson said UA’s engineering school has grown dramatically over the past decade and has brand new, state-of-the-art facilities.

“People in the United States and around the world are increasingly aware of the remarkable things happening at UA and within the college, but with the help of our amazing students, faculty, staff, administrators and industry and government partners, I believe we can capitalize quickly and build on past successes to elevate the college into a place of national engineering leadership,” he said.

Henderson earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.