CAHSS dean search in progress

The dean search for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) is underway after the college operated with an interim dean since January 2009.

After 15 years at Wilkes, Dr. Darin Fields left the position of dean of the CAHSS in early January of 2009 to become vice president for academic affairs, dean of the faculty and professor of English at Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia. After Fields' departure, a search was held within the college to find an acting dean.

Dr. Thomas Baldino, interim dean of the CAHSS, applied for the position and signed a contract, which expires in May of this year. The expiration of his contract prompted a search to begin in January.

Dean John Stachacz, dean of library services, is heading the search committee of five other professors. The members of the committee include: Sharon Bowar, associate professor of art; Dr. Marcia Farrell, assistant professor of English; Dr. Edward Foote, professor/chair of pharmacy practice; Eric Ruggiero, director integrative media; and Dr. Robert Tuttle, associate professor/chair of sociology and anthropology.

Stachacz headed the search committee for the Chief Information Officer at Wilkes University, in addition to several other searches during his career.

Baldino said he was curious about an administrative position, such as dean. He applied for the position temporarily with the understanding that he could apply for the full-time dean position once his contract expired in May 2010.

“As of this summer, I pretty much decided I wanted to return to the faculty,” said Baldino. “I have had some satisfaction [as dean], but I think I’ll get more going back to the classroom.”

Currently, Stachacz said that there are over 50 applicants for the position.

“I think we’ve seen some really good applicants for this position,” said Stachacz. “We’re still working through [the applications].”

The committee is now trying to narrow down the application pool to a few candidates.

“What we’re looking for in a new dean, obviously, is somebody who has a good track record in teaching, working with students and faculty, and an administrative background,” said Stachacz. “[The candidate] should have some experience in chairing a department.”

Baldino believes that whoever is chosen to fill the position of dean should be committed to the College and the students of Wilkes University.

“Whoever holds the job needs to be absolutely committed to the liberal arts and the value of a liberal arts education [and] committed to student-centered education,” said Baldino.

Baldino also said that patience, good judgment and the ability to analyze and weigh alternatives are good qualities for a candidate to have. Above all, Baldino believes that the person who takes this job needs to like people because, as dean, he or she will deal with people on a daily basis.

The new dean will also deal with faculty review, faculty review for tenure and issues between faculty members or student-faculty issues.

Stachacz said he hopes to have selected at least three candidates to come to campus in early April to have interviews with the faculty and department chairs of the CAHSS. The prospective candidates will talk with members of the campus community, including students, the hiring committee, the provost and the president.

From there, the search committee will analyze each candidate, listing their positive and negative attributes. The results will then be given to Provost Reynold Verret, who will make the final decision

Baldino has appreciated his time as acting dean because of the experiences that he’s had in the position.

“It’s been a learning experience,” said Baldino. “I certainly have a better appreciation for what deans do.”