University Times

The University community can meet the semifinalists for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) deanship at a series of public forums, beginning Nov. 21.

Six semifinalists remained in the running for the top position in Pitt's largest school yesterday, Nov. 19.

But one of the semifinalists — Wendy Wilkins, Arizona State University associate dean of liberal arts and sciences, and a linguistics professor — has been offered the job of dean of arts and letters at Michigan State University. Edward Stricker, chairperson of the FAS dean search committee, said Wilkins will let him know this week whether she wants to remain a candidate for the Pitt FAS deanship.

The other semifinalists are:

* David Magidson, former dean of fine, performing and communication arts and a professor of theater arts at Wayne State University. Magidson is scheduled to appear at a public forum on Nov. 21, 3:30-4:30 p.m., in Dining Room A of the William Pitt Union.

* John Cooper, a Pitt chemistry professor and former chairperson of the chemistry department. The public forum for Cooper is scheduled for Nov. 25, 3:30-4:30 p.m., in the William Pitt Union Kurtzman Room.

* Janice Madden, vice provost for graduate education and an economics professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Her public forum is scheduled for Dec. 5, 3:30-4:30 p.m., William Pitt Union Kurtzman Room.

* Charles Cnudde, dean of social sciences and a political science professor at Florida State University. His public forum is scheduled for Dec. 9, 3:30-4:30 p.m., William Pitt Union Kurtzman Room.

* Thomas Scott, former associate dean of arts and sciences and a neuroscience professor at the University of Delaware. His public forum is scheduled for Dec. 12, 3:30-4:30 p.m., William Pitt Union Kurtzman Room.

Pitt faculty, staff, students and others may question candidates at the public forums. Afterwards, audience members will be able to tell the search committee what they think of each semifinalist, either by filling out comment cards that will be distributed at the forums (respondents may sign their names or comment anonymously) or by sending e-mail to search committee chairperson Stricker at: stricker@bns.pitt.edu Besides appearing at public forums, semifinalists will be sized up by various individuals and groups during their 48-hour visits to the Pittsburgh campus.

According to Stricker, each candidate will meet individually with Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, Provost James Maher, current FAS Dean Peter Koehler and other individuals as schedules permit, including Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement Carol Carter and Pitt trustee Robert Lovett, who chairs the FAS Board of Visitors.

Each candidate also will meet with groups of vice provosts; FAS associate deans, department chairpersons and center directors; non-FAS deans; students, and various representatives of the FAS department with which the candidate potentially would be affiliated as a tenured professor.

"The provost has told us that he will not consider any recommendation [of a dean finalist] from the search committee unless it is accompanied by a letter from that person's potential home department in FAS, stating that the person would be acceptable as a tenured professor in that department," said Stricker, who chairs the neuroscience department.

Maher asked the search committee to recommend 3-5 finalists by Feb. 1, 1998, but Stricker said the committee hopes to do so by the end of 1997.

Maher charged the search committee April 3. After considering 97 applicants and nominees, the committee pared the list to 13 candidates, whom the committee refused to identify. On Nov. 10, the committee announced the names of the six semifinalists.

"All 13 had excellent academic credentials," Stricker said. "What set these six apart was that we felt each of them would represent a 'good fit' with the University of Pittsburgh and with FAS."

— Bruce Steele