The search committee responsible for filling the currently vacant seat of Dedman College Dean has narrowed the hunt down to five finalists. The nominees will visit the campus in the coming weeks as the university chooses a successor to former Dedman Dean Dr. Jasper Neel.
Neel stepped down at the end of the 2005-06 school year. The university formed a committee to search for a replacement, but the process hit a few bumps along the way. Three candidates were chosen in late March to compete for the position, but the search ended in a stalemate as all contenders declined to take over as dean.
Following the appointment of new Provost Paul Ludden at the beginning of this year, a second committee was formed in October to continue the search for a new Dedman College Dean.
Headed by Dean of Meadows Jose Bowen, 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.
After almost four months, the committee announced that William Dunne, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tennessee; Caroline Brettell, current interim dean of Dedman College; William Reisinger, associate provost and dean of international programs at the University of Iowa; Cordelia Candelaria, associate dean of strategic initiatives in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University; and Mark Welker, associate provost for research at Wake Forest University have all been chosen as finalists.
SMU officials were contacted, but unavailable for comment at the time.
