John Beard, associate dean of Coastal Carolina University's Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts, has been named interim dean of the college. He will replace Lynn Franken, who is leaving Coastal to assume the position of vice president for Academic Affairs at Beloit College in Beloit, Wis. A national search for a new dean is under way.

"John Beard has the background and experience to lead the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts in the coming months while we search for a new dean," said Peter Barr, provost and chief academic officer at Coastal. "I look forward to working with him during the interim period."

Beard joined the Coastal faculty in 1988. His responsibilities as associate dean include student academic matters, scheduling, curriculum, and budget coordination. Before becoming associate dean, he served as director of freshman composition for six years. Prior to coming to Coastal, Beard was an instructor at Calhoun Community College in Alabama and a graduate teaching assistant at Florida State University and Middle Tennessee State University. Beard earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Middle Tennessee State University and a Ph.D. from Florida State University.

Departments within the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts are English and Journalism, Foreign Languages, History, Music, Philosophy and Religion, Politics and Geography, Theater, and Visual Arts. The Waccamaw Center for Cultural and Historical Studies and the Jackson Family Center for Ethics and Values are also part of the College.

Beard will begin his duties on July 1, when Franken officially steps down.