On Aug. 15, 2006, an era will come to an end. Dedman College Dean and SMU Vice Provost Jasper Neel recently announced his resignation from his administrative positions and his return to the world of teaching.

He has served as dean longer than anyone else since the formation of the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences in 1981. “Although Dr. Neel will be missed in the dean’s office,” SMU President Dr. R. Gerald Turner said in a press release issued early Monday morning, “[Dr. Neel] will bring added strength to the English faculty when he assumes his teaching responsibilities.” A national search committee will be appointed this fall to seek a successor for Dr. Neel.

The list of achievements and improvements at Dedman College under Dr. Neel’s leadership is long. The Dedman Life Sciences Building, which opened in 2001 and includes a pre-med studies center, was realized largely because of Dean Neel’s determination. His leadership also helped create a Chemistry Ph.D. program at SMU and helped organize the renovation of the Fondren Science Building, which houses the Chemistry and Physics departments.

In addition, Dean Neel helped in restoring Sociology to full departmental status and in the redevelopment of the Psychology doctorate program. He also helped orchestrate the creation of new facilities for the Psychology Department’s Family Research Center, a center for the study of family-related issues. Dean Neel led the way to establishing new interdisciplinary majors at SMU, such as Markets and Culture.

Not only is Dean Neel known among SMU students for his popular annual “Go to Class” speech, but he currently teaches at the university as well. His class, The World of Shakespeare, covers eight of Shakespeare’s most important plays in one semester. “He is a really good teacher,” Laura Irick, a first-year in Neel’s class, said. “He’s very animated and keeps the students engaged.”