Skip to main content
Southeast Missouri State University
Audience  Search  Menu 

You are here:

  1. Home
  2. news
  3. Bain-Selbo Named Dean of College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Southeast

Bain-Selbo Named Dean of College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Southeast

Continue to main content
  • Academics,
  • Faculty and Staff,
  • English,
  • Criminal Justice, Social Work,
  • Communication Studies & Modern Languages,
  • Political Science/Philosophy,
  • History & Anthropology,
  • Humanities & Social Sciences
Published: May 06, 2022

Share Options

  • Share to Twitter
  • Share to Facebook
  • Share to Linkedin

Dr. Eric Bain-Selbo, dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Indiana University Kokomo, has been named dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) at Southeast Missouri State University.

Portrait of Dr. Eric Bain-Selbo.
Dr. Eric Bain-Selbo

Bain-Selbo was selected following a national search. He will begin his duties on July 25.

The College comprises about 2,035 undergraduate majors and about 181 graduate students from the Departments of Communications Studies and Modern Languages; Criminal Justice, Social Work, and Sociology; English; History and Anthropology; and Political Science, Philosophy and Religion. The College includes two centers, the Center for Faulkner Studies and Center for Regional History, engaged in scholarship and research for the southeast Missouri region and internationally. 

Southeast’s CHSS Dean develops strategic and innovative partnerships. The Dean's role also includes supporting and mentoring department chairpersons and faculty; participating in outreach activities, such as in admissions, recruitment and retention; and supporting experiential learning with an emphasis on the scholar-teacher model.

“We are excited to have Dr. Eric Bain-Selbo join our team at Southeast Missouri State University,” said Southeast Provost Dr. Mike Godard “Eric is fully committed to and passionate about students and their success and to develop initiatives that meet the ever-changing economic needs of our global society. I am confident that his leadership and vision will serve the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the University well as we continue to innovate our academic programs and experiential learning opportunities for our students.”

Bain-Selbo said he is honored to be selected as Southeast’s next dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. 

“This position is a fantastic opportunity. I’m excited to be at an institution with such a strong reputation and delighted to be joining colleagues in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences in the great work that they do,” Bain-Selbo said. 

He is looking forward to beginning his work with CHSS and the campus leadership team, he said. 

“Institutions like Southeast play a critical role in preparing students for professional success, life-long personal enrichment, and civic engagement,” Bain-Selbo said. “The mission of the University is incredibly important, and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences has played and will continue to play a central role in fulfilling that mission.” 

Bain-Selbo has served as dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences since 2017 at Indiana University Kokomo, where he supervised curricula, personnel and operations of seven departments; worked with campus, system-wide and community constituencies; oversaw online degree programs; supervised two art galleries; and managed a $4.2 million budget. He also served as tenured professor in the Department of History, Political Science and Philosophy. 

Bain-Selbo comes to Southeast with a wealth of experience in higher education and education administration, having previously served as head of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Western Kentucky University, and chair of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Lebanon Valley College. 

He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in comparative religious ethics from the University of Chicago, a Master of Arts in religion from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) and a Bachelor of Arts in religious studies from the University of Tennessee. 

Bain-Selbo has published six books and more than 40 reports, articles and book chapters. He has presented more than 50 papers at professional conferences. He recently completed two terms as co-editor of “Soundings: An Interdisciplinary Journal.” His work on college football and religion landed him as a featured scholar in a 2019 ESPN documentary, “College Football 150--Football is US: The College Game.”

Bain-Selbo is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the American Association of University Professors, the University of Chicago Alumni Board, and the Society for the Future of Higher Education where he served as executive director from 2010-2021.

Site Menu

Southeast Missouri State University

Secondary

  • Apply
  • Visit
  • Request Info
  • Give

Site

  • Academics
    • Program Finder
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
    • Online
    • Early College Programs
    • Study Abroad
    • Research
    • Honors Program
  • Admissions & Aid
    • Admission Requirements
    • How to Apply
    • Paying for College
    • Visiting SEMO
    • Admission Events
    • Meet the Team
  • Life at SEMO
    • Living on Campus
    • Dining
    • Student Life
    • Events
    • Traditions
    • Cape Girardeau
  • Student Support
    • Academic Support
    • Career Support
    • Health & Wellness
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Financial Services
    • Dean of Students
    • Military & Veteran Services

Secondary

  • Apply
  • Visit
  • Request Info
  • Give

Quick Links

  • About
  • News
  • Southeast Online
  • Economic & Workforce Development
  • Colleges & Departments
  • Offices & Services
  • People Directory
  • Athletics
  • University Foundation
  • En Español
  • Institutional Data

Audience Links

Southeast Missouri State University

Resources for you.

  • Current Students
  • Parents & Families
  • Accepted Students
  • Counselors
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Donors
  • Community Partners

Info For:

  • Current Students
  • Parents & Families
  • Accepted Students
  • Counselors
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Donors
  • Community Partners

Current Students Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Canvas
  • mySEMO
  • Email
  • SupportNET
  • University Calendar
  • Campus Map
  • Office Directory
  • People Directory
  • People Search
  • University Closings

Academics

  • Program Finder
  • Academic Calendar
  • Academic Advising
  • Academics
  • Course Catalog
  • Register for Classes
  • Registrar
  • Help Desk
  • Kent Library

Paying for College

  • Pay My Bill
  • Financial Services
  • Student Employment
  • Financial Calendar

Student Life

  • Apply for Housing
  • Residence Hall Association
  • Student Transportation
  • Dining
  • SE Link
  • Dean of Students

Career Services

  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Handshake Jobs
  • Resources
  • Events

Parents & Families Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Family/Parents
  • Family Weekend
  • About Southeast
  • Campus Map
  • Academic Calendar
  • Office Directory
  • People Directory

Your Student

  • Admissions
  • New Student Programs
  • Opening Week
  • Financial Services
  • Residence Life
  • Academic Support
  • Health and Wellness
  • Dean of Students
  • Department of Public Safety

Accepted Students Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Admissions
  • Camp Redhawk
  • Engage in 8
  • First Step
  • First Year Experience
  • New Student Programs
  • Textbook Rental
  • University Calendar

Academic Advising

  • Academic Calendar
  • Program Finder
  • Schedule an Appointment

Career Services

  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Handshake Jobs

Paying for College

  • Financial Aid
  • Scholarships
  • Payments

Student Life

  • Apply for Housing
  • Residence Life
  • Dining
  • Student Orgnizations

Counselors Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Office of Admissions
  • Find My Admissions Counselor
  • Counselor Resources
  • College Planning
  • Early College Programs

Applying to SEMO

  • Admissions Requirements
  • How to Apply
  • Deadlines
  • Test Optional

Financial Aid

  • FAFSA
  • SEMO Scholarships
  • Cost and Affordability

Launching Careers

  • Academics
  • Outcomes
  • Career Services

Alumni Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Alumni Association
  • Update Your Information
  • Share Your Story
  • Employment
  • Office Directory
  • Southeast News
  • People Directory

Get Connected

  • Alumni Events
  • Campus Events
  • Show SEMO Spirit

Give Back

  • Giving to SEMO
  • Get Involved
  • Annual Fund

Faculty & Staff Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Profile Spotlight Form
  • Offices and Services
  • People Directory
  • People Search
  • mySEMO
  • Email
  • Academic Calendar
  • University Calendar
  • Campus Map
  • SupportNET
  • Kent Library
  • Human Resources
  • Training and Development
  • University Closings
  • SE Alerts
  • WebQ
  • Southeast News

Faculty Resources

  • Faculty Senate
  • Canvas
  • Center for Teaching and Learning

Staff Resources

  • Professional Staff Council
  • CTS Staff Council

Facilities

  • Work Order/Order Supplies Request
  • Central Receiving

Donors Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Giving to SEMO
  • University Foundation
  • Office Directory
  • People Directory

Making an Impact

  • Student Stories
  • Ways to Give
  • Student Emergency Fund
  • Get Involved

Connecting with SEMO

  • Alumni Association
  • Alumni Events
  • Academics
  • Redhawk Athletics

Community Partners Resources for you

Featured Links

  • Economic and Workforce Development
  • Continuing Education
  • Factbook
  • About Southeast
  • Career Services
  • University Foundation
  • University Communications
  • People Directory
  • People Search

Workforce Development

  • Small Business and Technology Development Center
  • Southeast Online
  • Regional Professional Development Center
  • Alumni Association

Community Service

  • Southeast Serves
  • Office of Campus Life
  • Office of Greek Life
  • Redhawk Athletics

Media Inquiries

  • Southeast News
  • Redhawk Sports Information
One University Plaza Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
(573) 651-2000
Contact Us

Social

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

Campuses

  • Cape Girardeau
  • River Campus
  • Kennett
  • Sikeston
  • Poplar Bluff

Campus Links

  • News
  • Athletics
  • Events
  • Accreditations
  • Show Me Center

Social

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

Footer

  • Employment
  • Accessibility
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sunshine Law

© 2023 SEMO