Shirley Neuman, a dean and professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, has been named the top choice for dean of the University's College of Literature, Sciences and the Arts.
"I'm looking forward to work at a university that has a strong commitment to undergraduate education," Neuman said.
LSA, the University's largest school, has been without a permanent dean since former Dean Edie Goldberg resigned after being offered a position at the University of Texas in September.
Psychology Prof. Patricia Gurin has served as interim dean since Goldberg's departure.
Neuman has "a mix a qualities we were looking for," University Provost Nancy Cantor said.
LSA Dean Search Committee member Phil Hanlon said the committee did an international search for a new dean and utilized a search consultant firm as well as word-of-mouth recommendations.
"We did consider a lot of people," Hanlon said, adding that the committee looked at more than 100 candidates from both outside and within the University.
Neuman's appointment, pending approval by the University Board of Regents at its April meeting, is scheduled to begin in August.
An English professor at UBC and the dean of the faculty of arts, Neuman will have appointments in the University's English and women's studies departments.
The committee of about 12 people including faculty members, students and administration did "a very through and careful" search including several rounds of investigation, said Hanlon, a University mathematics professor.
"I think some of the real pluses about Shirley is she's a dynamic person," Hanlon said. "She has a great track record as dean of the faculty of arts" in British Columbia, he said, adding that Neuman looked like a good choice from the start.
Cantor said Neuman has strong experience in interdisciplinary and collaborative work, including her study of English and women's studies.
Neuman wrote a book of interviews with Canadian novelist and poet Robert Kroetsch and compiled monographs for the autobiographies of feminist Gurtrude Stein and poet W.B. Yeats, and worked on the first major edited compilation of essays from the world of Canadian women's writing.
Neuman is one of the founding members of NeWest Press, a successful regional publishing houses and a co-founder and publisher of Longspoon Press, which publishes the work of avant-garde Canadian poets.
The Association of Canadian and Quebecois Literature honored Neuman in 1984 with the Gabrielle Roy Critical Essay Award for the best critical essay on Canadian literature.
"She's had very broad experience," Cantor said.
Neuman received her bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Alberta, where she was also the founding chair of the women's studies program and the chair of the English department.
"We are delighted to have an outstanding scholar as the new dean," Gurin said, adding that the University is "looking forward to a productive period during her tenure."
As dean of the Faculty of Arts, Neuman currently oversees all departments and programs in the humanities, social sciences and the creative and performing arts, along with a contemporary art museum, anthropology museum, two theaters, UBC's film program, the Center for Research on Economic and Social Policy and the Center for Intercultural Language Studies.
"The committee and I are very confident" with our decision, Cantor said.
03-17-99
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