College Leadership

Dean Erik J. Porfeli

Erik J. Porfeli, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Human Sciences and has served as chair of that unit since joining the College of Education and Human Ecology in 2017. In those eight years, he enacted a leadership agenda that has allowed the department to thrive in terms of its mission impact, financial health and supportive climate and culture. In his new role as interim dean, Porfeli will continue to devote himself to uniting public and land-grant universities with Pre-K-12 school districts, industry and community partners.

Profeli’s scholarship is focused on lifespan career development with a focus on career adaptability, vocational identity and work values. In a current project, he currently is translating prior work with The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center and The Ohio State University Extension to establish an Appalachian and Rural Center for Health. The center will serve as a platform to launch a new OSU Healthcare Extension service across Appalachian and rural Ohio in the coming years.

At the national level, Porfeli chairs the Board on Health and Human Sciences of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU). He also chairs the Advancing Holistic Principles committee for the Association of American Medical Colleges. Finally, he serves as a member of the Cooperative Extension Health Leadership Committee. His leadership roles focus on initiatives that enhance access and opportunities for students in health and human sciences fields to advance the health, education and economic vitality of underserved communities.