National search begins for dean of NSM

by Daniel J. Fitzgibbons, Chronicle staff

national search for a new dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics has been initiated by Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost Cora B. Marrett. The post, which has been filled on an interim basis by Robert Hallock since September, was vacated last summer when Linda Slakey stepped down to become interim dean of Commonwealth College.

     The post will be advertised this week and next in the Chronicle of Higher Education, according to Nancy Buffone, special assistant to the provost. The vacancy will also be posted in the print and online editions of Science and Women in Higher Education as well as upcoming editions of Black Issues in Higher Education and Hispanic Outlook. Buffone said letters announcing the search are also being sent to leaders and academic officers at the top institutions in the U.S. News & World Report rankings. Various Web sites and list-servs are also being used to promote the search, she said.

     Barbara Osborne, professor of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, is chairing the search. The search committee, appointed by Marrett, also includes Biochemistry and Molecular Biology professor Alice Cheung, associate professor of Biology Elizabeth Connor, Physics Department head John Donoghue, Paul Friedmann, senior vice president of academic affairs at Baystate Health Systems; Computer Science Department chair James Kurose, Polymer Science and Engineering professor Murugappan Muthukumar, professor Anna Nagurney of the Department of Finance and Operations Management; Jerome Schaufeld, president and chief executive officer of Mass Ventures, Inc.; and Cleve Willis, dean of the College of Food and Natural Resources.

     Reporting to the senior vice chancellor for Academic Affairs and provost, the dean is the principal academic and administrative officer for the college whose nine departments are Astrono-my, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geosciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics, and Polymer Science and Engineering. Four graduate degrees are offered through interdisciplinary programs: Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Neuroscience and Behavior, and Plant Biology. The college has 250 faculty and about 600 undergraduates and 450 graduate students.

     Qualifications for the position include:

• A distinguished record of research and scholarship in the biological, physical or mathematical sciences appropriate for appointment as a tenured full professor in an academic department of the University;
  
  
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting, encouraging and facilitating the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research and other scholarly activities;
  
  
• The demonstrated ability to serve as a vigorous spokesperson and advocate for the college on campus, within the commonwealth, nationally, and in the capital campaign;
  
  
• The demonstrated ability to work effectively with faculty members, students, staff, administrators, and public and private funding agencies.

     The appointment will be effective on or about Sept. 1.

     Acceptance of nominations and applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

     To ensure full consideration, nominations and applications, including vitae, a one-page statement of the candidate's educational and administrative philosophy, and the names and addresses of three references should be received by Feb. 28.

     Send nominations and applications to: Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Search Committee, Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor and Provost, 362 Whitmore.