A veteran administrator is the new permanent dean of the Division of Continuing Education.

Dr. Clayborne D. Taylor has served as interim dean since 1998. His appointment is expected to be formally approved by the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning.

Continuing education provides flexible educational and training opportunities for individuals, groups and agencies. The division regularly works with more than 200 associated faculty members in providing both credit- and non-credit courses.

An electrical engineering professor, Taylor previously served as associate dean of research and graduate studies for the College of Engineering, as well as acting director of several university-level centers and institutes.

"Dr. Taylor has broad experience in working with academic units at Mississippi State and will provide outstanding leadership in developing and expanding outreach programs from our campus," said Dr. David Cole, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

A native of Columbia, Taylor holds a bachelor's degree from MSU, and master's and doctoral degrees from New Mexico State University. Prior to working at MSU, he held positions with the Navy Mine Defense Laboratory in Panama City, Fla., and Department of Defense-sponsored Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico.

During a 29-year career in engineering education, he was named a Hearin-Hess Distinguished Professor of Engineering at MSU and a Stocker Visiting Professor in Engineering at Ohio University.