Daly City resident Ann Hallum has served as acting dean of graduate studies since 2002

SAN FRANCISCO, April 19, 2004 -- Ann Hallum, a physical therapy professor with 14 years of experience at San Francisco State University, was recently named SFSU dean of graduate studies after a national search.

Hallum, a Daly City resident, has served as acting dean of graduate studies since 2002. Previously, she was associate dean of the SFSU College of Health and Human Services, a position she held from 1997 to 2000.

As dean of graduate studies, Hallum is charged with fostering the development of new and existing graduate programs, implementing policies, helping acquire resources to enhance graduate education, and overseeing graduate services.

"Ann has done an outstanding job since taking over the Division of Graduate Studies on an acting basis," said John Gemello, provost and vice president for academic affairs. "Through her leadership and knowledge, she has already improved the division's efficiency and customer service tremendously. I look forward to her continued work with faculty and the campus community to build a stronger graduate program."

Hallum replaces Paul Fonteyn, who left SFSU in 2002 to become provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs at University of Massachusetts, Boston. She said that the budget crisis facing SFSU will be a main concern.

"My staff and I, with the support of the Graduate Council, look forward to dealing constructively with the budgetary constraints that will impact us over the next few years," Hallum said. "During this difficult time, we must together, as a faculty and staff, ensure that we do not lose our creativity or block the generation of options and ideas that flow from different perspectives so valued at SFSU."

A licensed physical therapist and psychologist, Hallum focuses her academic research and community outreach activities on physical therapy for disabled children. She is a board member of the Center for Handicapped Children and Teenagers in San Francisco and East Bay Innovations: Independent and Supported Living Programs.

She joined SFSU in 1990 to head a new graduate program in physical therapy, offered jointly by SFSU and University of California, San Francisco. The program is ranked 15th nationwide by U.S. News and World Report.