Aug. 13, 2008 – Joane W. McKay, Ph.D., has been named interim dean of education at the University of the Virgin Islands. She began her new position on Aug. 6. McKay holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and History from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. She earned her Master of Science and doctoral degrees in Professional Studies from Iowa State University. She comes to UVI with over three decades of higher education experience. She served as coordinator and director of student teaching at Iowa State, the University of Nevada and the University of Northern Iowa, before rising to assistant dean, then associate dean, and finally dean of the College of Education at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn.
McKay has published numerous articles in refereed journals on the subjects of student teaching, international student teaching and cooperating teacher effectiveness and training. She has also served as editor of EdView Magazine, published by the College of Education at St. Cloud State University, and contributed articles to various higher-education newsletters. She is the author of both external and internal evaluation reports, monographs (including "10 Tips for Surviving NCATE," in 2000), and innumerable speeches, workshops and demonstrations.