"Dr. Lock has a long history of effective service in a variety of roles in the College, and she provided solid leadership during Dean Ridley's illness"
Robin Lock has been named interim dean of the Texas Tech University College of Education.
Lock is the college's acting dean and a professor of special education. She has been at the university since 1996 and has previously served as associate dean and vice dean in the College of Education and director of the Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research.
Her appointment is effective Wednesday, Dec. 12, and she will continue in the role until a permanent dean is hired, said Michael Galyean, the provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. Lock replaces Scott Ridley, who passed away in October from cancer.
"Dr. Lock has a long history of effective service in a variety of roles in the College, and she provided solid leadership during Dean Ridley's illness," Galyean said.
Interim deans are selected by the provost/senior vice president for academic affairs based on nominations by a group of college employees that includes tenured faculty and department chairpersons. Galyean said a permanent dean will be hired with the help of a national executive search firm. The search will begin in early 2019, and a new dean will be on the job no later than August, he said.
Lock is a member of the State of Texas Special Education Continuing Advisory Council, the Special Education Information Center (SpedTex) State Advisory Board and the Learning Outcomes Project Education Faculty Workgroup for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
She received bachelor's and master's degrees in special education and a Ph.D in learning disabilities from The University of Texas at Austin. Before joining Texas Tech, she worked as a classroom teacher.
