Following the resignation of Dr. Frederick Asinor, DSU President Harry L. Williams appointed Dr. Marshà T. Horton as the interim dean of the University’s College of Education, Health and Public Policy. The new interim dean join DSU, effective Aug. 19.
The reason for the resignation has not been given, although it was later learned that the higher education official had a criminal record. In announcing the appointment of Horton, Williams said the university is reviewing its background check process.
Williams said an immediate priority was to ensure that the college has the top leadership it needs for the fall.
“Upon Dr. Asinor’s resignation, we began a thorough internal process review of all hiring policies and procedures. The university has also initiated an audit of the budget and financial transactions from July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013, the period of Dr. Asinor’s tenure,” Williams said. “The findings of these reviews will be shared with the university’s Board of Trustees.
“Dr. Horton, a former dean, comes to DSU with years of proven educational leadership experience and success,” Williams said. “We are fortunate to have her join our dedicated faculty at this time.”
Horton recently served one year as a dean and associate professor at Virginia Union University’s School of Education, Psychology and Interdisciplinary Studies. She previously was the regional chair of Wilmington University’s Clinical Studies from 2005-2012 as well as an associate professor at that institution.
Horton was the associate secretary of Assessment and Accountability for the Delaware Department of Education, in which she coordinated the redesign and implementation of the statewide student assessment system. Her 39-year education career also includes her service as an education specialist and director of the Office of Authentic Assessment in the South Carolina Department of Education (1987-1992) as well as a number of college and public school teaching posts.
Horton has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Magna Cum Laude) from Sweet Briar College in Virginia, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Illinois. She has also studied graduate-level developmental psychology at Cornell University.
