Late this summer, Oakland University’s Honors College announced that it would be headed by a “new”  face beginning in the 2009-10 school year.

Barbara Mabee, who has been an OU faculty for 20 years, was promoted late this summer to the position of Interim Director of the Honors College.

“Professor Mabee is a lifetime employee of Oakland University, a distinguished teacher and scholar of German language and culture,” said Niels Herold, a member of the Honors College Council.

The Honors College, whose mission is to “provide highly motivated students an intellectually stimulating community,” welcomed over 150 new freshmen to the program this year, the largest incoming class in history.

“It is a pleasure and privilege to work with so many bright and curious students and to play a role in shaping their college careers,” said Mabee in an interview with OU spokesperson Eric Reikowski.

“We are fortunate to have her guidance of this outstanding college at OU until a search committee can identify a permanent director,” said Herold.

For information on the Honors College, visit www.oakland.edu/hc