As Kevin Dunn and Robin Kanarek settle into their elevated roles in the Arts and Sciences hierarchy - Dean of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School, respectively - students and faculty alike are considering the implications of this latest wave of University President Larry Bacow's administrative overhaul.
In letters to the Arts and Sciences faculty announcing the appointments, Dean of Arts and Sciences Susan Ernst highlighted both professors' administrative experience and popularity as testaments to their ability to lead efficiently without losing touch with students.
Dunn, Ernst, and Kanarek fill the void left behind by Vice President of Arts, Sciences and Technology Mel Bernstein, who left Tufts last summer. Often criticized by professors for what they saw as his overbearing leadership style, Bernstein left a University where many faculty members are wary of Ballou's involvement in their departments, budgets, and curriculums. Dunn has been quick to assuage their concerns.
"The last thing the faculty needs is to have someone telling them what to do, no matter how good the intentions of that person," he said. "I'm in the process of educating myself about the state of affairs and what the faculty wants."
Both Dunn and Kanarek will be responsible for faculty hiring in their respective schools - decisions that will be closely scrutinized by professors and students calling for a greater degree of diversity among Tufts' faculty. They will also decide how to distribute new hires among different departments. In terms of the approach he will take to performing these duties, Dunn said he is in the "gathering phase."
While Dunn will not deal directly with issues pertaining to the curriculum, as that will be the responsibility of Dean of the Colleges Charles Inouye, he did note that hiring decisions influence the content and nature of the curriculum.
Kanarek will handle similar faculty issues for the graduate school. In a letter to the faculty, Ernst said that Kanarek's duties include "major oversight of research and scholarship in Arts and Sciences as well as responsibility for graduate programs and students in Arts and Sciences."
In addition to promoting and coordinating graduate student research, Kanarek said that working to expand and broaden possibilities for undergraduate research is a priority. She will try to establish more integration among deans and better communication across departments, schools, and students.
Ernst called Kanarek - the Tufts Community Union Senate's 2000 Professor of the Year - an "outstanding teacher and mentor of graduate and undergraduate students, an excellent scholar, and an experienced administrator." She also cited Kanarek's leadership as instrumental in brining plans for the new, albeit still nameless, psychology building to fruition.
Dunn, Ernst said, is "ideally suited for this important position," and added that the former English professor is "an excellent scholar and a talented and popular teacher who attracts undergraduate and graduate students to his wide range of courses, from introductory classes to small seminars." Dunn gained administrative experience during his tenure as on-site Director of Tufts' summer program in Juneau, AS.
Dunn said that while attention is often disproportionately devoted to the undergraduate side of the University, "Tufts has a lot of great graduate programs and it's important for people to know that." He cited the importance of "increasing interface between [undergraduate and graduate education] and making undergraduates aware of the role of graduate students."
Though Dunn's duties, formerly covered by two deans, may seem overwhelming for one person, he stressed that he will cooperate extensively with Ernst and does not see the breadth of his duties as a problem. Kanarek takes over an existing position, but speculated, "I think the [role of Dean of the Graduate School for Arts and Sciences] is going to change because there is a new administration overall, with a new president."
Both deans will work under Ernst. Their appointments are subject to Trustee approval, but both have begun work in their administrative capacities.
Dunn, a former English professor, and Kanarek, a former psychology professor and chair of the department, were promoted as part of a larger administrative restructuring. Kanarek took over the position formerly held by Rob Hollister, now Dean of the University College on Citizenship and Public Service. Dunn now fills a role previously occupied by the Dean of Natural and Social Sciences, Ernst's former title, and the Dean of Arts and Humanities, history professor Leila Fawaz. Under the old administrative structure Ernst and Fawaz reported to Bernstein.
William Kinlaw contributed to this article.
