Michael H. Roberts of New York, N.Y., has been named dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences at Coastal Carolina University, effective July 1.

Roberts is professor of biology in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences at Pace University in New York. He has been acting dean of the college and associate dean for two years, and he has acted as chair of the Department of Biology and acting chair of the Department of Economics.

"I am extremely pleased to be joining the Coastal Carolina community," said Roberts. "During my visit I was struck by the enthusiasm for the institution on the part of students, faculty and staff. I am looking forward to working with all constituencies, internal and external, in order to help the College of Natural and Applied Sciences move forward to achieve even higher levels of excellence."

Roberts earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. He earned both a master's degree and a doctorate in biology from the University of Virginia. He has had many scholarly papers published.

Coastal psychology professor Joan Piroch has served as interim dean of College of Natural and Applied Sciences since July 2005.

Departments within the College of Natural and Applied Sciences are Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Coastal Marine and Wetland Studies, Mathematics and Statistics, and Psychology and Sociology. The Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies operates under the college, as does the Campus and Community Sustainability Initiative, the Environmental Quality Laboratory, the Center for Active Aging and Retirement and the Waccamaw Watershed Academy.

More than 1,780 students are majoring in science programs at Coastal. The college has 89 full-time faculty members.