NEW ALBANY, IN, (Sept. 25, 2013) – The longtime leader of the Master of Liberal Studies (M.L.S.) program at Indiana University Southeast was recently elected next-in-line to lead an international liberal studies group.

Professor of Psychology Deborah Finkel was recently named vice president and president-elect of the Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs.

The Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs (AGLSP) is an international organization focused on both public and private graduate liberal studies programs. There are more than 105 member schools ranging from small, liberal arts colleges to large, research-oriented universities.

Finkel has taught psychology at IU Southeast since 1992 and has been the director of the M.L.S. program since 2008.

The M.L.S. program began in 1994 and is one of four master’s degrees offered at IU Southeast. The program is designed for students who seek a graduate-level liberal arts education.

Studying graduate liberal studies at IU Southeast not only gives a greater appreciation for the humanities and the sciences, but it also helps students comprehend the complex social and political currents of the contemporary world as well as rapidly evolving technology within an interdisciplinary context.

“The primary strengths of the program include the quality faculty and the flexibility it provides students to design their own master’s degree,” Finkel said. “IU Southeast offers the only M.L.S. program in the region accredited by the AGLSP as a full member program.”

More than 180 students have enrolled in the M.L.S. program since its inception, and there are about 50 students currently enrolled.

“This program is to be congratulated for its successful effort in making the program a model of graduate liberal studies,” said David Gitomer, past-president of AGLSP.