As Interim College Dean Karen Ryan's yearlong term approaches an end this spring, a search committee is working to narrow the number of candidates for the permanent College dean position.
Presently, the committee is reviewing potential candidates' qualifications to select a group of finalists for more formal interviews. These candidates will be invited to Grounds for in-depth interviews and follow-up reference checks. In mid-March, recommendations will be made by the committee, and at the end of March, finalist interviews will be held with Provost Arthur Garson, Jr. and President John T. Casteen III.
According to University spokesperson Carol Wood, the search for a new dean of the College -- which was necessitated when former Dean Edward Ayers became president of the University of Richmond -- is one of many "key searches" currently taking place at the University.
"The University right now has eight critically important searches underway," Wood said, adding that along with a search for dean of the College, the University is also seeking deans for the Law School, the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, the Nursing School, the Medical School and the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. The University is also looking for a vice president for research and graduate studies, Wood noted, as well as a vice provost for international affairs.
"Casteen, Dean Garson and the search committee are committed to finding the very best candidate to lead the University's largest and probably most visible school," Wood said.
According to an e-mail from Garson, the College dean candidate must be someone "with vision to move the College forward and [who has] the operational ability to get that vision accomplished ... [a person who can] promote undergraduate research and service in a positive way."
Taking into account the ongoing growth of the University, Wood said that the new dean must be able to push the College even further and must be highly involved in the completion of the South Lawn Project.
Faculty Senate Chair Ricardo Padron added that the new dean must be able to balance the many and multi-faceted responsibilities of the College.
"This is a person who has the opportunity to really shape the future of Arts & Sciences," he said, adding that the candidate should be a successful fundraiser as well as a strong leader who can build science programs while maintaining humanities offerings.
"If you can find someone who can face that, they will have a huge impact," Padron said.
Garson also noted the new dean must be able to work well with the University's other schools and must seek out additional resources to achieve the University's goals.
"This new dean will have to accomplish bold goals in supporting the core [values of the University]: retaining and building faculty, supporting graduate students as well as creating innovative programs," Garson wrote.
According to Garson, the new dean will be selected at the end of the spring semester; however, he could not give a specific date.
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