Nicholas Mazza
	C. Aaron McNeece

Florida State University Provost and Executive Vice President Lawrence G. Abele has announced the appointment of longtime FSU Professor Nicholas Mazza as interim dean of the College of Social Work, effective July 1.

Mazza, the Patricia V. Vance Professor of Social Work, will succeed C. Aaron McNeece, who has served as dean since 2004 and interim dean in 2001-02. McNeece, also the Walter W. Hudson Professor of Social Work, is retiring June 30.

Under McNeece's leadership, the College of Social Work established the nation's first online master's of social work degree program, was ranked by Academic Analytics Inc. as the No. 4 doctoral program in the nation and received its first endowed chair.

"Dr. McNeece's contributions to FSU have been invaluable. During his 30 years here, he has received about $13 million in contracts and grants and was the first professor in the College of Social Work to have a named professorship," Abele said. "Professor Mazza is an exceptional scholar and a gifted teacher, and I know he will provide steady guidance to the college during this period of transition."

Mazza, who this year was named "Professor of the Year" for the third time by the Association of Student Social workers, said he will draw from the collective strengths of the faculty as he assumes the role of interim dean.

"My intention is to maintain stability for the college and advance its role as a top-notch practice, policy and research institution with a commitment to preparing students for effective and ethical contemporary social work practice in serving the most vulnerable members of society," he said.

Mazza's research focuses on the arts and social work practice, and he has served as editor of the Journal of Poetry Therapy since 1987. He earned his doctorate from FSU in 1981 and worked as coordinator of a counseling clinic for students and visiting professor at FSU before becoming an assistant professor in 1985. After being promoted to associate and then full professor, Mazza was awarded the Patricia V. Vance named professorship in 2005.