Interim Provost Woody Hunter has assembled a search committee to help identify a new dean of Emory College, with the goal of having the position filled by next summer.
Professor Elaine Walker of psychology will chair the group, and other faculty members include Marshall Duke (psychology), Dalia Judovitz (French and Italian), Gordon Newby (Middle Eastern studies), Sue Jinks Robertson (biology), Richard Rubinson (sociology) and Vaidy Sunderam (math and computer science).

Also on the committee are nursing Dean Marla Salmon, University Libraries Vice Provost Joan Gotwals and Emory trustee Wendell Reilly, a 1980 graduate of the college. College senior Jason Miller will serve as student representative.

“A primary characteristic for this position would be the capacity for leadership,” Walker said. “In particular, we are looking for an individual who will be viewed by the faculty as knowledgeable about the mission of the college and capable of identifying with and leading the faculty and students in the fulfillment of all its missions.”

Asked what qualities he considers most important in the next college dean, Hunter said, “An understanding of the core role of the arts and sciences in a major research university, high energy, collegiality, clarity of vision and the willingness to devote large amounts of time to development work.”

The search committee will be assisted by professional search consultant Paula Carabelli (now with the firm of Spencer Stuart) who has helped Emory locate other senior administrators such as John Ford, senior vice president for Campus Life. As befits any search of this magnitude, the position will be advertised nationally, but both the provost and the search committee chair welcome nominations for internal candidates.

“The relative merit of internal versus external candidates is something the faculty has discussed over the years, and that’s an issue I am especially interested in getting more input on,” Walker said. “That is where faculty discussions are going to play an important role.”
The position, which has been open since former dean Steve Sanderson left Emory in June 2001, has been filled in an interim capacity by Bobby Paul, on leave as dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

The search was delayed while an examination was conducted last academic year by the Strategic Planning Committee into the University’s administrative structures for arts and sciences. The committee recommended in May that existing structures be kept in place at least until both the college and graduate school deanships are filled permanently.