Dr. Jonathan Schwartz has been named Dean of the College of Public Service at the University of Houston-Downtown. He will officially join UHD on July 1, 2019.

Schwartz currently serves as the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Houston’s College of Education and as a faculty member in the College’s Department of Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences.

“I am thrilled to be named incoming Dean for the College of Public Service at the University of Houston-Downtown,” he said. “I strongly believe in the College’s mission of student success, community engagement and service. And I look forward to working with the faculty, staff, students and our community partners to serve the city of Houston.”

Schwartz holds a Ph.D. in counseling psychology and a Master of Arts in Counseling from New Mexico State University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from State University of New York at Buffalo. He is a nationally-renowned scholar in the area of men and masculinity, prevention, and intimate violence. In 2017, he won the Lifetime Achievement Award in Prevention from the Prevention Section of the American Psychological Association’s Society of Counseling Psychology.

“We are very pleased to have Dr. Jonathan Schwartz join UHD as the next Dean of the College of Public Service,” said Dr. Eric Carl Link, Senior Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs and Provost. “He brings to the role years of administrative experience and considerable accomplishments both as an administrator and as a scholar and teacher, and with his vision and leadership, the College of Public Service will continue to grow and serve the greater metropolitan Houston region with distinction. This is a great moment for UHD and for the College of Public Service, and Dean Schwartz will be a transformative and innovative leader who will help position the College for great success for years to come.”

Schwartz will succeed Dr. Leigh Van Horn, who has served as the College’s Interim Dean since 2015. He was selected as Dean following a national search led by a UHD committee (chaired by Dr. Charles Gengler, Dean of the Marilyn Davies College of Business) and search firm Strobeck/Pimental & Associates.

The College of Public Service is home to UHD’s Criminal Justice, Urban Education and Social Work programs. Faculty and students are engaged in scholarly activities and high-impact projects that enhance the Houston community and prepare future generations of professionals for careers in law enforcement, social work, teaching and other fields. The College’s Master of Science in Criminal Justice recently was ranked among the best online programs in nation by U.S. News & World Report.