CPCS Dean Search Underway

The search for a dean of the College of Public and Community Service is finally underway, as Provost Paul Fonteyn released in the middle of November a list of the committee charged with finding a person to permanently replace Ismael Ramirez-Soto, who stepped down in September 2003 and Connie Chan, who has been serving on the interim since then.

The search unofficially started earlier this semester, despite some initial hiccups that included the search getting pushed back due to what administration officials chalked up to the change in chancellors, and a dispute between the college and administrators over language in an ad advertising the position.

CPCS Professors Louis Aponte-Pares and Joan Arches are among those serving on the search committee, joined by Steven Schwartz, psychology department chair and a candidate for interim dean, College of Liberal Arts Associate Dean Jack Spence, and Richard O’Bryant, Northeastern University professor and son of John D. O’Bryant, the famed community activist and vice president of student affairs for which Northeastern’s African-American Institute is named.

A student is expected to be named to committee, as in past CPCS dean searches, and CPCS officials are lobbying for a staff representative as well.

According to a university-wide memo, all will have the opportunity to meet finalists for the position, as well as finalists for the position of dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies. The search was re-opened after negotiations fell through with a candidate from the University of Illinois.

Academic Affairs VP Search Re-Opened

The McCormack Graduate School dean search isn’t the only one UMass will be re-opening.

The UMass President’s Office confirmed last week that UMass President Jack Wilson will be looking for a vice president of Academic Affairs again, after he and a finalist couldn’t come to terms on some salary issues.

Wilson previously served as the vice president and the CEO of UMass Online before assuming the presidency last March. Botman, wife of former Senate president and failed gubernatorial candidate Thomas Birmingham, held the position earlier as well, trying out for numerous positions (including UMass Boston chancellor) before going off to become the executive vice chancellor of academic affairs at City University of New York (CUNY) earlier this year.

UMass Given ‘Statewide Strategic Asset’ Award

Recognized for aiding the state in economic development, UMass last week was given the “Statewide Strategic Asset” award from the Massachusetts Alliance for Economic Development (MAED), which was presenting its inaugural Team Massachusetts Economic Impact awards, according to a press release.

“All five of our campuses are committed to initiating and supporting economic development efforts within their regions and throughout the Commonwealth,” said UMass President Jack Wilson. “Economic development is central to our role as a public, land-grant university. I firmly believe that the path to economic and social development in the Commonwealth goes through the University of Massachusetts.”

The MAED, a private-public partnership which looks to market the state as a prime location for business, spoke of the work done on each campus, including UMass Boston’s “workforce development through its science education efforts in collaboration with the Boston public schools,” UMass Lowell’s “work to promote manufacturing clusters in nanotechnology and biotechnology,” and the UMass Medical School as an “anchor for the biotechnology industry in Worcester and Central Massachusetts.”