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Dr. Thomas J. (Tim) Hynes

Dr. Thomas J. (Tim) Hynes has served as vice president for academic affairs at the University of West Georgia since 1996, and has served two terms as acting president – from June 1, 2006-Aug. 10, 2007 and previously during the 1999-2000 academic year. Before arriving in Carrollton, he served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Louisville for six years, spending the previous 12 years as a faculty member there, including five years as chair of the college's Faculty Assembly. He is the author or editor of 10 textbooks and has completed more than 50 publications and scholarly presentations.

Hynes came to Louisville to begin its University Debate program in 1978, and the school's team won the National Debate Tournament in 1982, were second in 1984 and third in 1981.  His first academic appointment was as an assistant professor of communication at Baylor University.

He completed his graduate work in communication studies at the University of Massachusetts (Ph.D.) and the University of North Carolina (CH). He has an undergraduate degree in mathematics from UMass. Additionally, he earned certificates of completion at the Diversity Leadership Academy in Atlanta and at the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University.

Among other service activities, Hynes has served as chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Debate Tournament, chair of the Finance Board of the National Communication Association, executive committee of Carroll Tomorrow, board of the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, trustee of the Advanced Academy of Georgia, board chair of the Georgia Humanities Council and the Implementation Committee of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ American Democracy Project. He is also a member of the Atlanta Track Club and the New York Road Runners, and has completed 19 marathons since 1993.

Among other awards, Hynes was selected Debate Coach of the Year by Georgetown University (1982) and Emory University (1983).  He received a Campus Impact Award in 1984 and Outstanding Administrative Performance Award in 1990 from the University of Louisville. He also received a Distinguished Service Award from Jefferson County (Ky.) Public Schools (1996) and a Pi Kappa Phi Distinguished Faculty member award at West Georgia (2000). His biography is listed In Who’s Who In America, Who’s Who in Education and Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals.

His textbooks and other scholarly works reflect his interest in issues involving argument and public policy.  Some work has involved arguments about war and justice in American foreign policy, concepts of risk in arguments on public policy and the value of disagreement in civil society.

Hynes has one son, Patrick, a graduate of McGill University in Montreal. He is currently employed by the Open Society Institute in New York City.

Hynes is the first presidential prospect that CSU's Presidential Search and Screening Committee has invited to become candidates for the position. More forums are planned as other candidates make formal visits to CSU.

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