Deborah Erickson

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Lock Haven University President Keith T. Miller has announced that Dr. Deborah Erickson, Ed.D, Ph.D. will assume the position of provost and vice president for academic affairs at LHU starting July 20, 2009. Erickson will assume the position following the retirement of Dr. Roger Johnson, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Miller stated, “On behalf of the entire Lock Haven University community, I welcome Dr. Erickson to LHU. She comes to us with a distinguished career in higher education, both in teaching and administration.” During her academic career, Erickson has attained tenure and professor rank and has held numerous administrative positions such as chair, head of education, director of academic programs, and associate provost. As associate provost and interim dean of graduate and professional studies at Mansfield University, she facilitated academic program development and accreditation, collaborating with enrollment management and advancement. “Coming to us from a sister PASSHE institution,” said Miller, “she well understands the challenges facing state institutions of higher education.” “We look forward to her leadership in the role of provost and vice president for academic affairs,” Miller added.

Upon acceptance of her new position at Lock Haven University, Erickson said, “I am pleased to become part of the Lock Haven University learning community. I look forward to becoming one of the team that has moved Lock Haven into a well-renowned public university that assures educational access for students from a broad range of backgrounds and abilities by providing quality education at a reasonable cost.” Erickson added, “Working together with faculty and staff, I want our learning community to continue preparing students for personal and professional success, with a sensitivity to the demands of a global society and with a love for lifelong learning.”

In addition to her academic background, Erickson holds certifications and licenses in New York, Oklahoma and Australia and worked as a private practice counselor, school psychologist, director of a child abuse program, coordinator of an addictions program, and supervisor of special education. Using this experiential background Erickson has developed, implemented, and coordinated school counseling, school psychology, mental health counseling and pharmacy programs in higher education settings in Oklahoma, New York and Sydney, Australia.

Erickson has an extensive publication list related to understanding people’s reactions to physical and emotional challenges in life. She has been published in journals such as Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Journal of Counseling and Development, Optometry and Vision Science, Journal of Refractive Surgery, Perceptual and Motor Skills, Buros Yearbook of Mental Measurements and many other journals in the USA and Australia. She has developed Health Related Quality of Life scales for examining the challenges and cognitive processing styles in people with vision compromises, for assessing at-risk people for health –related anxiety and for determining the effects of ADHD treatment in children and adolescents.

Erickson earned her B.A. in psychology and music from Houghton College and her M.A. in school psychology from Alfred University. She earned her Ed.D. in counselor education from the University of Arkansas and her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Sydney, Australia.

Erickson and her husband, Paul, have raised five children and have two grandchildren. Erickson says that she enjoys hiking, boating and “being in the serenity and beauty of a natural setting.”