Spring Break
One finalist remains in biology chair search
Schulte, Roberts withdraw
Stephen Di Benedetto / Staff Reporter
Issue date: 2/6/09 Section: News
Gregory Spicer remains the only finalist for chair of the biology department.
Mary Anne Hanner, dean of the College of Sciences, said finalists Bruce Schulte and Stephen Roberts withdrew from the open position before winter break. Charles Amlaner, the other finalist, e-mailed Hanner during winter break, saying he was pursuing a position at another university, Hanner added.
Hanner said she does not know why Schulte and Roberts withdrew.
Hanner has received the search committee's evaluation of Spicer and is currently communicating with him, she said.
Spicer is the faculty director of the conservation genetics lab at San Francisco State University.
"Greg Spicer was one of the top four candidates from the beginning," Hanner said.
She added she would make an announcement about the biology department chair position as soon as possible.
Spicer's on-campus interviews happened on Jan. 22 and Jan. 23. Hanner said Spicer's interview would have been before winter break, but added Spicer had to deal with a family illness.
Last week, Diane Hoadley, chair of the search committee and dean of Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, said each finalist had a different skill set and had experience with administrative work.
A search for a new biology chair started after former biology chair Andy Methven announced in February 2008 he would resign. The announcement came during disputes between biology faculty members and department administrators about the use of graduate assistants teaching class.
Methven intended to continue as chair until June 30, but opted to participate in a research project this semester. Methven's last day as biology chair was Dec. 31.
Hanner appointed Godson Obia, associate dean of the College of Sciences, to be interim biology chair until June 30.
The new chair will most likely start his duties on July 1.
Stephen Di Benedetto can be reached at 581-7942 or at sdibenedetto@eiu.edu.
Mary Anne Hanner, dean of the College of Sciences, said finalists Bruce Schulte and Stephen Roberts withdrew from the open position before winter break. Charles Amlaner, the other finalist, e-mailed Hanner during winter break, saying he was pursuing a position at another university, Hanner added.
Hanner said she does not know why Schulte and Roberts withdrew.
Hanner has received the search committee's evaluation of Spicer and is currently communicating with him, she said.
Spicer is the faculty director of the conservation genetics lab at San Francisco State University.
"Greg Spicer was one of the top four candidates from the beginning," Hanner said.
She added she would make an announcement about the biology department chair position as soon as possible.
Spicer's on-campus interviews happened on Jan. 22 and Jan. 23. Hanner said Spicer's interview would have been before winter break, but added Spicer had to deal with a family illness.
Last week, Diane Hoadley, chair of the search committee and dean of Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, said each finalist had a different skill set and had experience with administrative work.
A search for a new biology chair started after former biology chair Andy Methven announced in February 2008 he would resign. The announcement came during disputes between biology faculty members and department administrators about the use of graduate assistants teaching class.
Methven intended to continue as chair until June 30, but opted to participate in a research project this semester. Methven's last day as biology chair was Dec. 31.
Hanner appointed Godson Obia, associate dean of the College of Sciences, to be interim biology chair until June 30.
The new chair will most likely start his duties on July 1.
Stephen Di Benedetto can be reached at 581-7942 or at sdibenedetto@eiu.edu.
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