Spring Break
Eastern to reopen search for new Arts and Humanities dean
Matt Hopf / News Editor
Issue date: 3/25/09 Section: News
The national search for the dean of the College of Arts and Humanities will reopen in August.
A memo from Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, sent to department chairs in the College of Arts and Humanities said that he would not be appointing a dean after current dean James Johnson retires on July 1.
"While each candidate demonstrated a number of strengths and skills, I believe we will be served best by reopening the search," Lord said in the memo.
Lord was not available for comment on Tuesday.
The search committee chaired by Mary Anne Hanner, dean of the College of Sciences, was asked to continue to serve when the search begins in the fall.
The search committee will benefit with the same members.
"The committee worked very well together," Hanner said.
She said while the committee will not assemble until the fall, they would be evaluating where they advertised the position and informing people through word of mouth.
Hanner said the finalists who visited the university in the spring would be able to reapply since it is an open, national search.
Finalists included Dana Ringuette, chair of the English department at Eastern; 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.
The finalists interviewed on campus in February.
Matt Hopf can be reached at 581-7942 or at mthopf@eiu.edu.
A memo from Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, sent to department chairs in the College of Arts and Humanities said that he would not be appointing a dean after current dean James Johnson retires on July 1.
"While each candidate demonstrated a number of strengths and skills, I believe we will be served best by reopening the search," Lord said in the memo.
Lord was not available for comment on Tuesday.
The search committee chaired by Mary Anne Hanner, dean of the College of Sciences, was asked to continue to serve when the search begins in the fall.
The search committee will benefit with the same members.
"The committee worked very well together," Hanner said.
She said while the committee will not assemble until the fall, they would be evaluating where they advertised the position and informing people through word of mouth.
Hanner said the finalists who visited the university in the spring would be able to reapply since it is an open, national search.
Finalists included Dana Ringuette, chair of the English department at Eastern; 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.
The finalists interviewed on campus in February.
Matt Hopf can be reached at 581-7942 or at mthopf@eiu.edu.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Aaron Dillon
posted 3/25/09 @ 9:16 AM CST
I personally feel as though the initially search has since become a waste of time, a drain on resources, and an overall probable exercise in political infighting between a bunch of academics who couldn't help but act like children. (Continued…)
Michael Victor
posted 3/28/09 @ 5:46 PM CST
Richard Sax is NOT the Vice President of Academic Affairs or Dean of the College at Lake Erie College. He is merely a member of the English faculty. He "resigned" as VPAA and Dean months ago under pressure from the administration because of his failure to perform the duties of his administrative positions in accordance with college procedures and policies and because he was completely unable to work with faculty. (Continued…)
Hmm . . .
posted 3/29/09 @ 9:48 AM CST
Sax was presented to Eastern as a VPAA and Dean. If he is not, he's guilty of misrepresentation. And those charged with looking into the candidate's history are guilty of a serious oversight. (Continued…)
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