• The finalists for deans of the Colleges of Arts & Sciences and Communication will visit campus for interviews in the coming weeks.
• Students are encouraged to attend forums for dean finalists.
• Provost John Pauly will make the final decision on both positions this spring.

The searches for permanent deans of two Marquette colleges continue.

The three finalists for dean of the College of Arts & Sciences have interviews with faculty, administrators and students on campus this month. The five finalists for dean of the College of Communication will be on campus in January and February.

Provost John Pauly will make the final decision on each position this spring after on-campus interviews are completed and he has received reports from each committee.

College of Arts & Sciences

The College of Arts & Sciences is looking for a leader who can build on past success and take the college to new heights, said Albert Rivero, professor of English and chair of the search committee.

"The college needs a strong, visionary leader who will advocate for the importance of arts and sciences both to the university community and to the community at large," Rivero said. "In a world shaken by economic crisis, he or she will need to find the resources not only to do what we do – and do very well now – but also to take us to the next level of academic excellence."

Rivero also said the committee is looking for a "passionate supporter of Marquette's mission and a champion of diversity."

The College of Arts & Sciences has been in a transition since former dean, Michael McKinney, retired in December 2007. McKinney was at Marquette for 40 years, including eight as dean of the college.

John Pustejovsky, an associate professor of German, served as interim dean in spring 2008. Jeanne Hossenlopp served as interim dean of the college this school year. Hossenlopp will return to the chemistry department as a faculty member upon the hiring of a permanent dean, Rivero said.

"Both interim deans succeeding Dean McKinney have offered excellent leadership and have continued to build on his initiatives and accomplishments," Rivero said.

McKinney said in an August 2007 Tribune article that his proudest accomplishments as dean were hiring 89 new faculty members and creating a faculty mentoring program in 2005. He helped create majors in social welfare and justice and Catholic theology, and a minor in ethics.

Rivero said student input is critical to the selection process and encouraged all students to participate in the forums when the finalists visit campus.

Jacqueline Keidel, president of the College of Arts & Sciences Student Council and a junior in the college, said the new dean needs to be a uniting factor for the largest college on campus.

"We need someone who can deal with the diverse students, but also can unite us and be a good leader," Keidel said.

Keidel stressed the importance of communication between the dean and faculty, the student council and students.

"I want someone who will be a public figure and will interact with students more," Keidel said. "It's not to say that (the interim deans) were not good deans, just that having a permanent dean will offer the stability that a college of our size and diversity needs."

College of Communication

The College of Communication is looking for a permanent dean to replace Pauly, who took the position of provost after serving as dean of the college from 2006 to 2008. Lynn Turner, a communication studies professor, has served as interim dean since July.

The new dean must be able to lead the college into the future as professions change, said Ana Garner, associate professor in the college and chair of the search committee. New technology and scholarship are transforming jobs, and the college will look to the new dean to help provide the leadership and resources necessary to face the changes, she said.

"We're looking for someone who can be an outstanding public figure and an ambassador for our college," Garner said.

The position also requires a good vision and collaboration, said Scott D'Urso, an assistant professor in the college and a member of the search committee. The candidate must be comfortable working with donors, alumni and administrators, he said.

Garner encouraged students to attend the public presentations featuring finalists during their campus visits. Any comments, evaluations and suggestions students give her will be confidential and taken into account.

Payal Patel, president of the College of Communication Student Council and a senior in the college, said she hopes the new dean is approachable.

"I've come across quite a few peers who tend to feel a little hesitant to approach deans with concerns or suggestions," Patel said. "Having someone who can build a comfort zone right away would be beneficial for the students."

Patel also suggested improving Johnston Hall and continuing to "provide classes and organizations within the college with more resources to help (students) gain the best learning experience possible."

"Hopefully, this will ultimately help develop the college into one of the top communication programs in the country," Patel said. "Although I'm a senior, I hope that the dean can continue to maintain a college we can all look back on and be proud of long after graduation."

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http://www.marquette.edu/newsbriefs/2009/Students/January-2009-Students/Jan-05-09-NB-STUDENTS.html#1

http://www.marquette.edu/newsbriefs/2008/Students/December-2008-Students/Dec-22-08-NB-STUDENTS.html#1