Dr. Loretta Clayton Named Dean of Graduate Studies at MGA

Author: Alexandria Brooks
Posted: Wednesday, October 5, 2022 3:00 PM
Categories: Faculty/Staff | Pressroom

Macon, GA

Dr. Loretta Clayton
Congratulations to Dr. Loretta Clayton, who has been named dean of Middle Georgia State University (MGA)'s Graduate Studies effective October 1. Clayton, who had been leading the office as interim dean, is charged with the coordination of graduate programs, policies, and growth. Clayton joined the MGA faculty in 2007, becoming full professor of English and Interdisciplinary Studies in 2018. She has served a number of leadership roles in graduate education, including as associate dean and director of Graduate Student Policy and Support. She launched the Graduate Assistantship Program, worked with the Faculty Senate on creating a permanent Graduate Studies Council, and has overseen the graduate catalog. She has established strong working relationships with program leadership at MGA and across the state, having served as the president of the Georgia Council of Graduate Schools.

Clayton has been awarded the MGA Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching. She is the author of several publications on the topics of Victorian literature and aesthetics, is the recipient of an NEH Fellowship to study the work of Oscar Wilde at UCLA’s Clark Library, and has served in leadership roles in the South Atlantic Modern Language Association.

As the Dean of Graduate Studies, Clayton supervises MGA’s Office of Graduate Studies, provides institution-wide leadership for all aspects of graduate education and serves as the University’s advocate for matters related to graduate programming and planning. The specific work of the Office of Graduate Studies, headquartered on the Warner Robins campus, includes coordinating admissions for all MGA’s graduate programs; collaborating with academic partners on graduate policy, curriculum, enrollment and recruitment; and ensuring support for graduate students.

“Middle Georgia State University has continued to strategically add new graduate programs, building a culture of graduate studies that feeds the entire institution,” says Clayton. “With the launch of MGA’s new Master of Business in Professional Leadership degree in January 2023, the University will have 12 graduate degrees: 8 professional master’s programs in the growing fields of Information Technology, Nursing, Teacher Education, Occupational Therapy, Technical and Professional Writing, Business Management, and Public Relations; a doctoral degree in Information Technology; 2 graduate certificates in Communications; and a post-master’s certificate in Nursing.

The presence of graduate programming can be aspirational for the University’s undergraduate students who see that advanced degrees can be within their reach after graduating from their bachelor’s degree program. I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue to bolster graduate education at MGA.”