Mitch Whaley (Photo: Ball State University)

Ball State University’s newest academic college – the College of Health – will soon have an interim dean as its lead.

In a statement Monday, the university says current and founding dean, Mitch Whaley, will step down from his duties and return to teaching.  Whaley has taught Exercise Science classes since 1986.

Read More: Ball State University Creates A College of Health

Whaley was previously the dean of the College of Applied Sciences and Technology.  In 2016, the College of Health was created by combining several existing efforts, including the School of Nursing, School of Kinesiology, and the departments of Health Science, Speech Pathology and Audiology, and Social Work.  A recently finished Health Professions Building houses the College.  Ball State says though the move was a team effort, it was “in no small way” Whaley’s work.

Ball State says it will appoint an interim dean in a few weeks.  The school has had to fill several college dean spots over the last five years.