Spring Break
Five finalists named for dean of the College of Arts and Humanities
Staff Report
Issue date: 2/3/09 Section: News
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While an official announcement is expected today in the University Newsletter, the College of Arts and Humanities had a link to the finalists on their Web page Monday morning.
Finalists include Dana Ringuette, chair of the English department at Eastern; William Clow, interim associate dean of the college of Liberal studies at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse; Arved Larsen, professor of music and previously associate dean of Fine Arts at Illinois State University; John Omachonu, the associate dean of the College of Mass Communications at Middle Tennessee State University, in Murfreesboro, Tenn.; and Richard Sax, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio.
Johnson announced his retirement in the fall as did associate dean Jeffrey Lynch.
Johnson will retire July 1, and Lynch will retire on Dec. 31.
Ringuette would bring interdisciplinary
Ringuette has been working at Eastern since 1990, when he started as an assistant professor of English and has moved up to chair of the department, a position he has held since 1997. Now, Ringuette is looking into becoming dean of the College of Arts and Humanities.
"I'm interested in the challenges and rewards the position holds, but I'm most interested in helping advance the work of all things arts, all things humanities and the work of faculty and students," he said.
Before Eastern, Ringuette was an English instructor at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash.
If selected dean, Ringuette said he would foster interdisciplinary within the college.
"I want to foster and maintain the connections between the arts and humanities," he said. "I want to support the intellectual, creative and academic work of faculties, departments and students."
Ringuette also said he would take a lead in maintaining and expanding the fundraising for the College of Arts and Humanities.
Clow would bring passion
If Clow is named as dean, he said he would bring passion to the job as well as experience.
"I think what I bring to the table is a great energy, a passion for advocating for the arts and humanities and a lifetime of creativity in the arts," Clow said. "Additionally, I have a very strong background in collaboration, budgeting and physical facilities."
Clow said he realizes that times are difficult and would keep that in mind as dean.
"The important thing to remember in the months to come is why what we do as educators and what we do as students matters," he said. "We have to move forward with a unified vision on to the importance of higher education and remind everyone, as often as it takes, that the arts and humanities is a vital part of that education."
In addition to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Clow has also worked at Stephens College in Columbia, Mo. Clow said the opportunities at Eastern are what sparked his interest in the position.
"The array of programs and the opportunities for students, faculty and staff really excite me," he said. "EIU is in a great place as it looks to the future and the College of Arts and Humanities is ready for that step."
Larsen would bring a comprehensive view
Larsen said before he applied for the dean position, he called around and got a pleasant report about the College of Arts and Humanities and about the university itself.
"It's a combination of disciplines that seem to fit together," Larsen said about the college.
Larsen has worked at three different colleges since the late 1970s and said it give him a comprehensive view in applying for the dean position.
"I'd bring a whole lot of experience," he said.
Larsen worked at Paine College in Augusta, Ga., which is a historically black liberal arts college with an enrollment of 800.
"That's a very unique setting," he said.
Larsen then moved onto the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam, a nationally known music school of 3,500 students. Now, Larsen works at Illinois State University, a campus of about 20,000 students.
"It's a bit larger than Eastern," Larsen said.
Larsen said if selected, he would pay attention to what Eastern is doing and what they could be doing to better fit the students and faculty.
"I'm looking forward to meeting the people and learning more about the situation," he said.
Omachonu would bring 20 years of experience
Omachonu also has many years of experience when it comes to the arts and humanities.
"Almost 20 years of academic experience," he said.
Omachonu has worked in mass communication since 1991, when he was an assistant professor in the subject at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Fla. He has also worked at Florida A&M, Fort Valley State University and William Paterson University; all of which he held positions in mass communication.
Omachonu said he heard about the position after he was nominated.
"I think it's a tremendous opportunity for whoever is selected," he said.
Omachonu said he looks forward to visiting the campus, learning about its culture and meeting the people here.
Sax would bring an open mind
Sax has been an academic vice president for about two decades and has worked at both public and private colleges.
His interest in the dean position at Eastern stems from a desire to work at a public university again. Lake Erie College is a private college.
"I'm very interested in going back to a public university," Sax said.
Sax has predominately work in the areas of English and literature, but is a fan of the arts as well.
"Some of the things I enjoy the most is the fine arts," he said.
If selected as the dean, Sax said he would keep an open mind.
"You have to look in multiple directions at the same time," he said. "We are in an economic downturn right now and we have to look at the priorities."
Sax has worked at Madonna University in Livonia, Mich. and Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo. and said his administration background will help him resolve issues.
"I do believe in data-based decision making," Sax said.
The search process
Dean Mary Anne Hanner, dean of the College of Sciences, is chairing the committee to find Johnson's replacement. Hanner was not available for comment, as she is out of the office until Thursday.
Marilyn Coles, professor in the department of music and a member of the search committee said the committee started out with about 45 applications.
"With all searches you look carefully at all the applicants," she said.
This includes looking at résumés, letters of application and interviewing references.
Coles said the committee looked at candidates with experience as a dean or associate dean.
Applicants were also interviewed over the phone.
The finalists will visit campus throughout the month.
"Once the candidates visit campus, the committee meets again," Coles said.
The committee will review evaluations from students and faculty from the finalists' visits to campus, before making a recommendation.
Coles said the committee may make the recommendation within a month of the last visit.
"It's a slow process, but this way it helps us make the right choice," she said.
On the finalist, Coles said that the all the candidates had a lot to offer, and have served as chair of a department, associate dean or dean at the university level.
Interview schedule of candidates
Feb. 9-10 - Arved Larsen
Feb. 17-18 - John Omachonu
Feb. 19-20 - William Clow
Feb. 24-25 - Dana Ringuette
Feb. 26-27 - Richard Sax
Matt Hopf can be reached at 581-7942 or at mthopf@eiu.edu.
Kristina Peters can be reached at 581-7936 or at deneic@gmail.com.
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