Debra Friedman from the University of Washington will be taking over as dean of the College of Public Programs, ASU administration announced Tuesday.
Friedman has worked at Washington since 1994, most recently holding the position of the director of special projects, in which she helped launch the university's $2 billion campaign.
She was one of three finalists applying for the position of dean at ASU.
Friedman will have the charge of moving the college to the downtown campus in August 2006.
"We thought she understood best the potential of a college like public programs serving this community from a downtown location," said Milton Glick, executive vice president and provost of ASU.
"She's very smart, very thoughtful and very strategic in her approach," he added.
Interim Dean of the college Jeff Chapman said he thinks Friedman is the perfect person to move the college downtown.
"She is just extraordinary -- very smart, very insightful and she knows how to work with the research aspect of the school and with the community embeddedness [sic] of the college."
Friedman said she is looking forward to working with the people at ASU.
"I like the energy and motivation at ASU, Friedman said. "I hope the college is and comes to be known as a place where there is a culture of innovation."
Friedman said she was not intending to leave her position at Washington this year, but the dean opportunity at ASU looked different from any other opportunity.
"The reason I was interested in this one was that it seemed to me to be the most exciting challenge for a person interested in higher education," she said.
"Higher education is in a state of change and what ASU is undertaking seems to be among the most innovative and exciting universities in the country."
Glick said, "She [Friedman] has fighting ideas, and I think she's ready to work with the faculty and develop the vision for what the college will do in its downtown location."
Reach the reporter at jourdan.rassas@asu.edu.
