PEMBROKE — Dr. Irene Pittman Aiken, dean of The Graduate School at UNC Pembroke, was recently elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools.
Dr. Aiken was elected at the 2022 annual meeting of the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools held Feb. 17-19. The organization comprises more than 200 graduate schools in 15 states of the southern region of the United States.
The Conference aims to consider topics relating to graduate study and research, which are of mutual interest and concern to the member institutions. In addition, dissemination of information, promotion of standards, encouragement of research, and assistance to institutions starting graduate programs are essential functions of the organization. Perhaps most importantly, the organization serves as a liaison with other national and regional educational bodies on behalf of the institutional members.
Dr. Aiken has served The Graduate School as Associate Dean and then Dean since 2008. Under Dean Aiken, graduate school enrollment has grown 265 %. She received a bachelor’s degree in intermediate math education from the University of North Carolina and an MA from UNCP. She returned to UNC-Chapel Hill for her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a minor in Sociology. In November, Dr. Aiken ended her tenure as president of the North Carolina Council of Graduate Schools and now serves on the Executive Board as Immediate Past President. She was recently asked to serve on the master’s committee for the Council of Graduate Schools.
