SMU officials have announced the formation of a second search committee to seek out candidates for the position of Dedman College dean.

Dr. Caroline B. Brettell, dean ad interim, has filled the position since Dr. Jasper Neel officially stepped down at the end of the 2005-06 school year.

The first search committee had three finalists in spring 2006, but none of them opted to take the job.

A new dean is projected to be in place by the 2008-09 school year.

Dean of the Meadows School of the Arts Jose Bowen will act as committee chair.

The committee consists of SMU Trustee Robert Dedman Jr., Vice President for Student Affairs Lori White, Professor of Biological Sciences Christine Buchanan, Associate Professor of Spanish Olga Colbert, Professor of Philosophy Douglas Ehring, Associate Professor and Chair of the Environmental Sciences Program Bonnie Jacobs, Henderson-Morrison Professor of Prehistory and Director of the QUEST Archaeological Research Program David Meltzer, Professor of History Sherry Smith, Professor of Environmental and Civil Engineering Laura Steinberg, Professor of Statistical Science S. Lynne Stokes, Claude C Albritton Professor of Geological Sciences Brian Stump, and SMU students Mary Catherine Dodson and Stephanie Markman.

“We are searching for a leading scholar who will build on the great strength of the faculty and the staff in Dedman College, as we take the college and SMU to the next tier,” Provost Paul Ludden said.

“The provost has selected an excellent committee, and I am honored to be working with them,” Bowen said. “We will be working carefully, but also steadily, to identify finalists as soon as possible this spring. We are committed to finding a diverse and highly qualified pool of candidates.”

Dedman College is the largest school at SMU and currently offers 80 majors for both undergraduates and graduates in the sciences, humanities and social sciences.

“There’s always room for improvement, so I’d like a dean who is someone who’s open to new ideas,” sophomore pre-med student Astrud Villareal said. “I’d like him to be approachable and accountable – if he says he going to do something, then he does it.”