Building a nationally recognized model for quality undergraduate education is one of the primary objectives of Georgia State University’s current strategic plan. One critical element of this goal is the development of an Honors College to provide outstanding educational experiences for the university’s top undergraduate academic talent. To that end President Mark Becker and Provost Risa Palm have hired Dr. Larry Berman, a political science professor from the University of California-Davis, to be the founding dean of the Honors College.
Recognized internationally as an expert on American politics, foreign policy, the American presidency and the Vietnam War, Dr. Berman brings a wealth of experience to the new College. He was the Founding Director of the Washington Center for the University of California system and served as the Chair of the Political Science department at UC-Davis for 8 years. He has published numerous articles and books including Planning a Tragedy: The Americanization of the War in Vietnam, Lyndon Johnson’s War: The Road to Stalemate in Vietnam, No Peace, No Honor: Nixon, Kissinger, and Betrayal in Vietnam and Perfect Spy: The Incredible Double Life of Pham Xuan An, Time Magazine Reporter and Vietnamese Communist Agent. His most recent work, to be published by HarperCollins, is a biography of Adm. Elmo Zumwalt, Jr., a naval commander who initiated sweeping reforms that modernized the fleet and challenged institutional racism in the 1970’s.
Dr. Berman’s expertise has been featured in several television series including Bill Moyers PBS series, “The Public Mind,” David McCullough’s American Experience, Stanley Karnow’s “Vietnam: A Television History;” C-Span’s Book TV, NPR’s Morning Edition with Scott Simon and the History Channel’s “The Presidents: To the Best of My Ability.” He has received several prestigious fellowships and has been recognized by his peers for his commitment to quality education, receiving the Faculty Research Lecturer Award and the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research in 2010.
Beginning January 3, 2012, Dr. Larry Berman will start in his new role as founding dean of Georgia State University’s Honors College. “I am eagerly awaiting the leadership challenges as we transform the Honors program into an Honors College,” Dr. Berman said. “My goal as Founding Dean is that our Honors College be recognized as a ‘community’ for innovation, intellectual challenge and service; to be recognized nationally in the top tier of Honors Colleges.” “I am especially heartened by the commitment of President Becker and Provost Palm to this vision of engagement and excellence that will make the realization of the new Strategic Plan a reality.”