The DES is open to all faculty and staff of DePaul University who have retired from the university with 20 years of full-time service and are 55 years or older, or have retired from the university with 10 years of full-time service and are 62 years or older.
The Academy building was turned over to DePaul University, and renamed Byrne Hall. Bygone DePaul | Special Collections & Archives
Introduction
About the DePaul Emeritus Society
DePaulUniversity values its ongoing connections with its faculty and staff retirees, as it values their past contributions to the university’s mission. The DePaul University Emeritus Society was founded in 2008 with the merger of the Staff Emeritus Society and the Emeritus Professors Association. The Society is sponsored by the University’s Office of Mission and Values.
The purpose of the DePaul Emeritus Society is to provide a means for ongoing connection, communication, and socialization between the university and its emeritus faculty and staff, and between individual retirees whose professional lives were for so many years dedicated to university service.
Photos, events, and information of interest to members of the DePaul Emeritus Society will be posted to this blog. Please take a look, add your comment, offer to be an "author" or just enjoy.
CHICAGO — An expert in cancer biology and leader in higher education will serve as the next dean for DePaul University’s College of Science and Health. Interim Provost Salma Ghanem announced April 29 that Stephanie Dance-Barnes will join the DePaul community July 1.
Dance-Barnes currently serves as interim associate provost and dean of the University College of Lifelong Learning at Winston Salem State University in North Carolina, where she also is an associate professor of cell and molecular biology.
Stephanie Dance-Barnes has been named the new dean of DePaul University's College of Science and Health. She'll begin her role on July 1. (Garrett Garms/Winston Salem State University) DOWNLOADWith a background in cancer biology and toxicology, she has received multiple research grants and fellowships for her work to develop improved and targeted cancer therapies. She is the recipient of multiple professional and teaching awards, most recently the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching.
“Dr. Dance-Barnes is a champion for the liberal education approach to learning,” Ghanem said. “She recognizes the importance for students to not only be engaged in dynamic learning experiences, but also the need to be equipped with critical thinking skills that go beyond the classroom. Her extensive administrative and teaching experience combined with her passion for innovative scientific research will be a tremendous benefit for our diverse students at DePaul.”
Originally from the small town of Weeksville, North Carolina, Dance-Barnes first pursued a scientific path at Elizabeth City State University, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology and pre-medicine. She completed a master’s degree in biology at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. She is the first African American female to receive her doctorate from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in the area of cancer biology and toxicology.
In her current role as interim associate provost and dean, she oversees an academic unit that provides WSSU students with tools they need to succeed, including advising, TRiO student support services, STEM Learning Center, Testing and Assessment Center, as well as the first-year writing program. As a member of the provost’s senior team, she provides administrative leadership, direction and evaluation for all academic activities and faculty affairs at the university. She also has served as an active member of WSSU’s strategic planning leadership team.
Prior to becoming interim associate provost and dean in 2018, Dance-Barnes was co-chair of WSSU’s Department of Biological Sciences. During her tenure, she spearheaded the redesign of the department’s curriculum, introducing new concentrations that include cell biology, microbiology, pre-health professional, biotechnology and neuroscience. She has led a basic cancer research lab at WSSU since 2010, where she has mentored more than 30 student researchers.
“I am devoted to promoting student success,” Dance-Barnes said. “I feel very blessed to work with so many diverse students who go on to graduate and excel in professional and graduate programs.”
Dance-Barnes joined the faculty at WSSU in 2010, after completing her postdoctoral work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her research focuses on characterizing the biodiversity of tumors using genomics, molecular genetics and cell biology. She has worked collaboratively with researchers at Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center to secure funding from the Department of Defense and National Institutes of Health to support underrepresented undergraduate students in cancer research. She also secured a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to establish a program for underserved students in third through fifth grade to promote STEM careers.
“As leaders in higher education, it is imperative that we employ efforts to create positive STEM learning environments that empower students with the skills to be competitive in a global arena,” Dance-Barnes said. “One existing barrier is the number of K-12 schools experiencing a shortage of teachers, particularly in science. Developing partnerships between universities and K-12 schools is a major initiative for me.”
Dedicated to student success and inclusive excellence, Dance-Barnes created the Women in Science Program at WSSU in 2011. The program, which provides mentoring and research opportunities for women in STEM, received the 2018 Inspiring Programs in STEM award from Insight into Diversity magazine. Dance-Barnes also received the Inspiring Leaders in STEM award from Insight into Diversity magazine in 2017.
“My core values align with DePaul’s mission,” Dance-Barnes said. “I look forward to working with the faculty and staff in the College of Science and Health to continue to promote DePaul’s growth, development, innovative transformation and successes.”
DePaul’s College of Science and Health is currently led by professor Dorothy Kozlowski, an expert in traumatic brain injury, who has served as interim dean since 2018.
“I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Kozlowski for the dedication she has consistently demonstrated to the university’s mission and CSH students throughout her tenure as interim dean,” Ghanem said. “Her leadership leaves CSH poised for continued success and ready to advance science for the good of public health.”
CHICAGO — For more than 15 years, Tatum Thomas has committed herself to preparing adult and nontraditional learners for the next stage in their careers. Effective July 1, she will serve as dean for DePaul University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
Tatum Thomas will serve as dean for the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. DOWNLOADThomas currently serves as senior associate dean of student affairs at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies in New York City. Prior to her current role, she served as the director of academic services at New York University's School of Professional Studies.
“Leading and designing emerging schools of professional studies is an area of expertise for Dr. Thomas," said Interim Provost Salma Ghanem. “Her deep understanding of nontraditional, urban education will strengthen DePaul's longstanding commitment to serve diverse learners. As a collaborative and innovative leader, Dr. Thomas will continue to advance SCPS, further supporting the success of our adult and nontraditional students."
In her current role at Columbia University, Thomas oversees strategic initiatives to increase quality, retention and student outcomes in the School of Professional Studies. A leader in diversity and inclusion, she managed a first-of-its kind Columbia University HBCU Fellowship program. This successful program invites high-achieving undergraduate seniors to pursue master's degrees, enhancing student readiness with a robust mix of support services and career development opportunities.
“Nontraditional education has been a natural part of my being," said Thomas. “I was an inner-city, first-generation student and the product of multiple institutions that cater to non-traditional learners. I completed my bachelor's degree at night, while holding full-time and part-time positions and raising a small child. I know first-hand that affordability, flexibility, practicality and immediate returns on the investment are essential to adult learners."
DePaul officially launched SCPS in 2019. The school builds upon the work of its predecessors, the School for New Learning and the Office of Continuing and Professional Education. Aligned with the university's strategic plan, SCPS offers nontraditional students a range of lifelong learning opportunities, including credit-hour based, market-responsive professional studies degrees and credentials.
“DePaul's SCPS fulfills the mission of higher education," Thomas says. “We create a place of opportunity and deliver an excellent education without disrupting lives. I appreciate the caliber of DePaul's faculty and their highly visible commitment to lifelong learning and scholarship. I'm privileged to serve in this community."
During her tenure at Columbia University, Thomas launched multiple student service units. She opened the School of Professional Studies' first lifelong learning career center to provide resources for degree and non-degree students, in addition to alumni. The success of the pilot launch led to the opening of a second center in San Francisco. Relationships she has fostered with civic and corporate partners include Morgan Stanley, Turner Construction, the Mellon Foundation, Firelight Media and the Harlem YMCA of Greater New York.
“Dr. Thomas embodies the mission, values and professional impact represented by innovative schools of continuing education,” says Dr. Jason Wingard, dean and professor of Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies. “She has served as an invaluable partner to me at Columbia - contributing to the preparation of global students for the future of work.”
At NYU's School of Professional Studies, she led key initiatives and programs. Her teams administered graduate degree programs, undergraduate degree programs, and continuing education programs and interacted with accrediting bodies for curriculum administration. As part of this work, she collaborated with department chairs and faculty to manage academic portfolios and launch new programs. Thomas also established a one-stop holistic counseling unit, as well as a judiciary committee to oversee academic integrity at the Division of Programs in Business.
Thomas holds a bachelor's in psychology from Marymount Manhattan College and a master's in higher education administration from Baruch College, City University of New York. She has a doctorate in organizational leadership from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She also earned a certificate of management excellence from the Harvard Business School. She plans to relocate to Chicago in June.
Don Opitz, an alumnus and adult education scholar, has served as interim dean for DePaul's SCPS since July 2018. “Don has led SCPS through a critical time of transition," Ghanem says. “Professional education is a strategic priority for DePaul, and thanks to his expertise, the school will continue on its positive trajectory. I am very grateful for all Don has done for the faculty, staff and students of SCPS."
I am pleased to announce DePaul’s Board of Trustees voted to appoint Salma Ghanem interim provost effective July 1.
Salma, a professor and dean of the College of Communication, has been serving as acting provost since October 2018. Over the last eight months, she has served admirably during a challenging time for Academic Affairs. I am grateful for her willingness to continue in this role
With a background blending the theoretical and applied aspects of the field of communication, Salma became dean of the College of Communication in August 2014. Prior to joining DePaul, she served as dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts at Central Michigan University for five years. She also held the position of chair of the Department of Communication at the University of Texas Pan American for eight years.
Salma Ghanem
In addition to her academic background, she served as a press and information officer for the Press Office of the Egyptian Mission to the United Nations in New York and as a communication specialist with Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Texas.
Born and raised in Egypt, she is fluent in Arabic and French and has considerable skill in Spanish. Her passion for cultural awareness and interdisciplinary research stems from the fact she herself is an immigrant and was raised by parents who are Egyptian and Dutch. She taught for 15 years at the University of Texas-Pan American, a Hispanic Serving Institution. She also taught in several study-abroad programs in Spain, Egypt, Turkey, Austria and Germany. Salma received multiple awards for research and teaching, and has published and presented nationally and internationally. She earned a Ph.D. in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin in 1996.
It is indeed our good fortune to have talented leaders who can step up and take on expanded responsibilities. I am pleased to also announce Alexandra Murphy will continue to serve as acting dean of the College of Communication. On behalf of the university community, I thank them for continuing in these important leadership roles.
The university intends to conduct a nationwide search for a new provost in the summer or fall of 2021 with the goal of naming a permanent provost by July 1, 2022. Please join me in congratulating Salma on her appointment as interim provost.
Sincerely,
A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D. President
Thursday, June 13, 2019
A LOOK BACK, A LOOK FORWARD: SNL TRANSITIONS TO SCHOOL OF CONTINUING AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
By Abigail Pickus / June 13, 2019 / Posted in: CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY Facebook
SNL celebration 2019
On May 31, DePaul hosted a gala celebrating the School for New Learning and its transition to the School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
(Diane M. Smutny/DMS Photography)
The School for New Learning was founded nearly half a century ago. As the newly branded School of Continuing and Professional Studies, it continues to offer adult learners innovative programs that meet their needs.
When SNL opened its doors in 1972, the nation was in the midst of what came to be known as the nontraditional student movement.
“This meant the student came before the institution. That sounds basic now, but up to that time, the questions were always ‘what did the institution think’ not ‘what did the student think,’” recalls SNL founding Dean Howard Sulkin in a 1998 documentary DePaul produced in honor of the school’s 25th anniversary.
With professionally oriented degree programs, recognition of life experiences, emphasis on applied liberal studies and commitment to community, SNL offers working adults a pathway to higher education in a way that meets their needs.
“SNL was built upon educational principles that value students’ prior learning from experience, their workplace-based knowledge and skills, and their perspectives as older students that traditional students wouldn’t learn about in textbooks. This is what makes adult learning such a fascinating and exciting project,” says Interim Dean Don Opitz. Don Opitz
Interim Dean Don Opitz shared remarks during the spring gala. (Diane M. Smutny/DMS Photography)
For Associate Professor Susan McGury, producer of the anniversary documentary, SNL is like no other place for adult learners. From its inception, SNL has placed students from the working world in command of their learning pathways.
“This method of education puts the student in the driver’s seat while surrounding them with lots of supports and resources. Add to this the lifelong-learning element, which is about building skills, and the result is the confidence to know that you can teach yourself anything,” she says.
Having graduated its 10,000th student this past summer, SNL continues its commitment to serving a unique learning population, even as it pivots to respond to changes in its market.
According to recent studies, SNL students are older, average age 36, work more hours than other DePaul students, 68 percent work 30 or more hours per week, and attend part time, 87 percent. They also express greater satisfaction with their advising and academic experiences. Also, the proportion of SNL’s African-American students is significantly higher than the same demographic for adult learners across DePaul.
SNL continues to reinforce its commitment to the larger community.
“Students who come to our programs are already very much engaged with their communities. This is something that DePaul values and SNL especially emphasizes,” Opitz says.
This summer, SNL will officially become the School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
Building upon its strengths in online and flexible degree program options, the school will become even more competitive in an already competitive marketplace by offering more specialized degrees. This includes new undergraduate degree programs in business administration, computing and health care administration in partnership with the College of Science and Health.
“These developments will enable us to reach a wider net of students and be more successful. I’m excited about us being more innovative as we explore new degree programs and engage in the business of certificates and stackable credentials,” Opitz says.
Looking ahead to a future under the SCPS banner means both change and consistency.
“One thing is sure: The school is proudly advancing its unique mission of engaging adults in learning that connects their academic studies with endeavors at work and in the community,” Opitz says.
A FUTURE FOR THE SCHOOL FOR NEW LEARNING TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO EDUCATION
Photo credit: Jamie Moncrief
Over the past 18 months, DePaul has invested time and resources to thoroughly examine the adult learner landscape— and the School for New Learning’s role in it—to determine what must be done so DePaul can continue to lead in this competitive area.
This study involved comprehensive review from the independent Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, as well as two internal task forces that included SNL faculty. SNL has a 45-year history that commanded respect and careful consideration from those serving on the task forces. I thank everyone involved for their thoughtful participation in these studies.
Yesterday, I joined SNL Dean Donald Opitz to share with SNL faculty and staff a general plan that is built around the results of those studies. The research and recommendations have made it clear that the best way forward is for DePaul to adopt a unique, new model that will build upon the strengths of SNL and yet expand its mission and scope of operations to be more responsive to new markets.
Over the next year, SNL will undergo a large-scale reorganization, renaming, and rebranding; a broadening of its mission and function; and changes to its faculty and staffing structure. The name approved by Faculty Council, the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS), will go into effect July 1, 2019.
SCPS will be a bold departure from the current SNL model. The new model will move away from offering competency-based, individualized degree options and move toward the growing adult market for credit-hour based, market-responsive professional studies degrees and stackable credentials.
It will offer a comprehensive, innovative approach to continuing and professional education, making available programs and delivery modalities to provide access to a broad range of students within SCPS and other DePaul colleges and schools. Its unique infrastructure will leverage cross-college collaborations to promote existing college-based, adult friendly degrees and certificates. It also will house a university-wide Office of Prior Learning Assessment and will coordinate summer programs aimed at high school students and summer session at DePaul.
The school, as restructured, will include a faculty and staff model—yet to be finalized—that provides the flexibility the unique SCPS model demands. To achieve this model, existing SNL tenured faculty will be offered a voluntary buyout and retiree-eligible staff will be offered an early retirement incentive. When details of these voluntary programs are available, they will be shared with eligible SNL faculty and staff members.
Currently enrolled SNL students will be supported throughout the completion of their degree programs.
A dean will continue to provide leadership for the school, and a Faculty Advisory Board will be formed drawing on faculty from participating colleges to support cross-college collaboration and curricular development.
In the months ahead, we will continue to work on details of the SCPS structure, a plan for the integration of new elements, a marketing plan, and the faculty and staffing model. Updates from the dean or the Office of Academic Affairs will be shared as more answers are available.
I am grateful to Dean Opitz for providing leadership during this transition. As a participant in both task forces that provided input into this decision, he is well-positioned to work with his long-time colleagues as the reorganization of the school progresses.
I am confident that when the reorganization is complete, SCPS will build on the university’s and SNL’s longstanding commitment to providing adult learners access to higher education through curricular structures that serve lifelong learning needs.
Source: Newsline, Provost Marten denBoer / September 7, 2018 / Posted in: CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY
Composer and community engagement leader, Ronald Caltabiano will serve as the next dean for DePaul's School of Music. (UCSF DMM / Marco Sanchez)
RONALD CALTABIANO NAMED DEAN FOR THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Marten denBoer Ph.D. MARCH 31, 2016
I am happy to announce Dr. Ronald Caltabiano will serve as the next dean for the School of Music. He will begin his new role on July 1, and we look forward to welcoming him to our university community.
Our School of Music is gaining both an internationally recognized composer and a dedicated instructor with more than 25 years in higher education, including 14 as an administrator. In his current role as dean and professor for the Jordan College of Arts at Butler University in Indianapolis, Ron oversees the areas of art, arts administration, dance, music, theatre and a community outreach program that reaches 1,800 low-income youth.
On his arrival at Butler in 2011, he managed the completion of and final fundraising for the Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts, a 450-seat multi-arts venue. The combination of his fundraising efforts and building relationships with key stakeholders resulted in a 40 percent increase in student scholarships for music. Ron's experience as dean, including the management of large arts facilities, prepares him well to lead DePaul's School of Music during the construction of our own new state-of-the-art building.
Ron is also the founding director of Butler ArtsFest, an annual 11-day festival that brings national and international artists on campus to work with students and faculty. He cares deeply about connecting with the local community and developing programs for diverse audiences to enjoy.
Trained at The Juilliard School in New York, Ron launched his musical career as a composer. His compositions have been heard around the globe, with commissions and performances by the San Francisco, Cincinnati and Dallas Symphony Orchestras. Chamber ensembles who have performed his work include Juilliard, Emerson and Arditti String Quartets, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Fires of London. Numerous labels have recorded his compositions, and his extensive experience with performers has enhanced his leadership as an educator.
While maintaining his independent career as a composer, Ron taught music composition and theory at the Manhattan School of Music, Hong Kong Baptist University and the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University. He also served as a faculty member and associate dean at the College of Creative Arts at San Francisco State University from 1996 until 2011.
I am thankful for the dedication of the search committee, led by Dean John Culbert. The committee worked hard for months conducting a thorough national search. I appreciate their time and thoughtful consideration. I also would like to thank the faculty and staff who shared insightful comments on the various candidates. The committee and I found them to be very helpful in the decision.
I am also extremely grateful to Judy Bundra, who has done extraordinary work as interim dean for the School of Music since January 2015. Our new dean will benefit greatly from Judy's leadership and experience as he transitions into his new role at DePaul.
In all of my conversations with Ron, he expressed great admiration for the talent embodied in DePaul's School of Music. He looks forward to collaborating with our outstanding faculty, staff and students, especially during the construction of the new music facilities, to build on the school's strengths and foster the next generation of world-class musicians.
Guillermo Vásquez de Velasco, the next dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, emphasizes the importance of building bridges between academic units to create a multidisciplinary learning environment. (Ball State University/Christopher Helms)
GUILLERMO VÁSQUEZ DE VELASCO NAMED DEAN FOR THE COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Marten denBoer Ph. D. MARCH 29, 2016
As we begin the spring quarter, I have good news to share with the university community. Guillermo Vásquez de Velasco, an international scholar and designer, will serve as the next dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, effective July 1.
An architect and urban planner by training, Guillermo brings three decades of experience as an educator and university administrator to DePaul. At Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, where he currently is vice provost and professor of architecture, he earlier served as dean for the College of Architecture and Planning from 2007 to 2015. Prior to joining Ball State University, he was executive associate dean and director of outreach for the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
During his years leading the College of Architecture and Planning at Ball State, he and his colleagues set high academic standards with 94 percent of its students holding high school honors diplomas. The college had the highest four-year graduation rate and the lowest attrition rate at the university. He also achieved high levels of alumni engagement and greatly enhanced the collective identity of the college. A strong supporter of experiential learning, he promoted the expansion of graduate programs in the urban core of Indianapolis and a wide variety of study abroad programs.
Guillermo incorporates his training as a designer and planner into all aspects of his work. His natural curiosity makes him a perpetual learner and constant innovator. In his discussions with me, he emphasized an eagerness to build bridges between units and continuing to strengthen our multidisciplinary collaboration at DePaul.
Born and raised in Perú, Guillermo has studied and worked around the world. He earned his doctorate in architecture from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and a master's degree in architecture from the University of Toronto in Canada. He has a bachelor's degree in architecture and urban planning from Ricardo Palma University in Lima, Perú. He has practiced as both an architect and urban planner in Perú and Belgium.
Early in his career he became an independent practitioner and started teaching design courses. He has been working with students ever since and has held faculty positions at Delft University of Technology, the University of Toronto, as well as Sagrado Corazon University and Ricardo Palma University. He currently teaches a distance-education course at Ball State University on the fundamentals of design thinking. In his words, teaching is addictive, a sentiment I believe we all share at DePaul.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank the search committee, led by Salma Ghanem, dean for the College of Communication. The committee completed a thorough national search, and I am grateful for their dedication to this task. I also am thankful for the feedback I received from faculty and staff throughout the search process. The committee and I found all the comments to be helpful in our decision.
In addition, I would like to thank Lucy Rinehart who has done outstanding work as interim dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences since January 2015. I am sure our next dean will appreciate Lucy's insights and experience as he transitions into his new role at DePaul.
We look forward to welcoming Guillermo to the DePaul community.
Dear Colleagues,
Please join me in welcoming our new provost, Dr. Marten denBoer, on his first day at DePaul.
As our chief academic officer, Marten will spend the next several months familiarizing himself with DePaul and our community. He will meet with a wide range of university leaders, including many tenured, non-tenured, term and adjunct faculty in our schools and colleges. When you see him on campus, I encourage you to give him a warm welcome.
To refresh your memory on Marten’s background, please read a profile DePaul Newsline published when we first announced his appointment. Newsline will publish more articles about our new provost later this fall.
I have kept in close contact with Marten these past several months and know how much he looks forward to working closely with all of you. I know he eagerly anticipates the ways he can work with the entire university community to continue to strengthen and build our university, providing our students with an even greater education.
Marten may be reached at provost@depaul.edu.
Respectfully,
Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M.
President
It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of Jennifer Rosato Perea as dean for the College of Law, effective July 1.
Throughout her 25 years in higher education, which includes 11 years as a law school administrator, Jennifer has been an active voice in the national dialogue about legal education. She currently serves as the dean of the Northern Illinois University College of Law, a post she has held since 2009, and served as the acting dean of the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law during its first year of operation in 2006.
DePaul is gaining a dynamic and innovative law school administrator who is highly respected by her peers. An accomplished scholar in family law, bioethics and civil procedure, she brings extensive administrative experience and a deep understanding of the current challenges faced by law schools and the legal profession.
Jennifer's legal career began with a passion for working with abused children. She felt she could make the biggest difference by becoming a lawyer. She clerked for the Honorable Thomas N. O'Neill Jr. of the United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania before becoming an associate with Hangley, Connolly, Epstein, Chicco, Foxman & Ewing in Philadelphia. Today, Jennifer is a sought-after public speaker and has published extensively on diverse legal issues that affect children and families. She regularly receives invitations to present before multiple national organizations, including the Association of American Law Schools and the American Bar Association.
In addition to her legal scholarship and practice, Jennifer was associate dean of students at two universities. She spent 14 years on the faculty at Brooklyn Law School, and in her later years was a co-director of the Center for Health, Science and Public Policy and associate dean of students. She also served as associate dean of students at the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law from 2007 to 2009. She has held teaching positions at the University of Pennsylvania, New York University and Villanova University.
As one of a small number of Latina law school deans in the country and the first in her family to attend college, Jennifer strives to enhance diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. She presents extensively on implicit bias and its effects on diversity and inclusion. In recognition of her efforts, she received the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Illinois Secretary of State, the Vanguard Award from the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, and the National Latino Law Students Association Leadership Award in Education and Advocacy.
Under her leadership at Northern Illinois University, the law school earned national recognition for diversity, value and public service. Jennifer doubled opportunities for experiential learning, including launching a clinic in health advocacy and dramatically expanding student externship opportunities, especially in Chicago. She led the development of a mentoring program for first-year students, pairing almost the entire class with alumni and other lawyers, and initiated a first-year professionalism program required for graduation. She also collaborated with areas across the university to create accelerated degree programs, allowing students to earn a bachelor's and law degree in six years or less.
Jennifer earned her bachelor's from Cornell University and her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She was the editor-in-chief of the University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Business Law and won the Edwin R. Keedy Moot Court Competition. She is a member of the Association of American Law Schools Membership Review Committee and the Illinois State Bar Association Task Force on Legal Education and Student Debt. She formerly served as chair of the Association of American Law Schools New Law Teachers Conference.
In speaking with Jennifer, she expressed how DePaul's long history with public interest law and commitment to social justice drew her to the university. She looks forward to working with DePaul's distinguished faculty, dedicated staff and exemplary students to contribute to the impressive work that is taking place at the college and university.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Trustee Jack Greenberg and the search committee for the time and efforts they dedicated to finding a new dean. I also would like to thank Bruce Ottley for serving as the interim dean for the College of Law since June 2014. He will return to his regular position as a professor in the college, and I am grateful for his exceptional hard work and dedication to DePaul. Finally, I would like to thank the many faculty and staff who took time to send their insightful comments on the various candidates. We found them extremely helpful.
Cortelyou Commons was buzzing with faculty and staff on the afternoon of Nov. 17, as Deans Don Casey and Chuck Suchar prepared to give their farewells before they retire at the end of the year. Each received a Via Sapientiae Award, DePaul's highest honor for faculty and staff, for their tremendous contributions to the university.
"The number of accomplishments these men had a hand in during their time at DePaul is nothing short of extraordinary," says David Miller, interim provost for DePaul and dean of the College of Computing and Digital Media.
Casey first arrived at DePaul in July of 1995 to fill the position of dean for the School of Music. During his 20 years of leadership, the school took great strides both academically and philanthropically. Casey immediately began cultivating relationships with Chicago's music scene, which created an environment that attracted world-class faculty. He raised performance standards and developed a more enriching academic experience for students. The dean also more than tripled the number of available endowed scholarships, which made the music program more accessible to students.
Because of his leadership and influence, several of the school's ensembles are now widely regarded as among the best in the country. Casey even helped initiate "Christmas at DePaul," the annual concert that has become one of the university's most loved holiday traditions. In addition, his encouragement led to the Community Music Division providing musical instruments and instruction to 150 children in the Lawndale neighborhood.
"In all things, DePaul leads with the heart," Casey says about his time at the university. "That's why it's felt like home since the moment I walked through the door. I'm so very grateful that DePaul found me."
Suchar started his career at DePaul as an undergraduate student 50 years ago. Similar to many of DePaul's current students, Suchar brought a unique cultural heritage to the university. "I was born in the Soviet Union, but spent the first four and a half years of my life in a displaced persons camp in Germany," he says. "DePaul was the first major step in achieving my American dream -- of making something of myself."
Since his graduation, he has spent 43 years in various positions throughout the university. In addition to teaching, Suchar held many administrative roles, including director of the University Honors Program, division head of behavioral and social sciences, chair of sociology and anthropology, associate dean and ultimately dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
As a scholar, Suchar combined his passion for photography and sociology to help pioneer the field of visual sociology. In 1996 he earned DePaul's Excellence in Teaching Award, but his influence branched beyond the classroom and into administration. As associate dean of LAS, he co-founded the Discover and Explore Chicago program, which this year celebrated its 20th anniversary. The program helps freshmen not only adjust to life in Chicago, but also provides them with academic success skills. The curriculum also has been a model for similar programs at universities across the country.
"It's been a tremendous ride, and all I can say is thank you, DePaul," Suchar says.
Lucy Rinehart, Interim LA&SS Dean (L); Judy Bundra, Interim Music Dean
INTERIM DEANS APPOINTED FOR SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND THE COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Elizabeth Clements NOVEMBER 13, 2014
David Miller, interim provost, announced today two interim dean appointments. Judy Bundra will serve as interim dean for the School of Music, and Lucy Rinehart will serve as interim dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
"The faculty in both Music and LAS recommended and enthusiastically supported these appointments," Miller says. "Judy and Lucy each possess exceptional leadership and administrative skills. Their respective colleges will be in good hands during this time of transition."
Bundra and Rinehart will serve as interim deans as Don Casey, dean of the School of Music, and Chuck Suchar, dean of LAS, prepare to retire on Dec. 31. Casey joined DePaul 20 years ago to serve as dean of the School of Music. Suchar has been a member of the faculty for 43 years and has served as dean of LAS since 2006.
"It has been a privilege working with Don and Chuck these many years," Miller says. "They have both had an incredible impact on our students and the entire university. We are extremely grateful for everything they have done for DePaul."
These deans will now pass the batons to Bundra and Rinehart, who will assume their new posts on Jan. 1 for a period of 18 months.
As associate dean of academic affairs in the School of Music since 1999, Bundra oversees the undergraduate and graduate music programs. A music consultant to organizations and school districts across the country, she regularly gives workshops on such topics as curriculum and assessment, multicultural music, comprehensive arts education, early childhood music education and creativity in the arts.
"At DePaul, I have been fortunate to serve under two extraordinary deans, Fred Miller and Don Casey," she says. "I am honored to serve the School of Music as interim dean and look forward to working with our outstanding faculty, staff and students in the coming months."
Bundra became a member of the School of Music faculty in 1987 and served as chair of the music education department from 1990 to 1999. In addition to representing the School of Music on multiple university committees and councils, Bundra also earned the 2012 Spirit of DePaul award. She is currently vice-chair of the Negaunee Music Institute of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and a member of the Arts Higher Education Panel for the Chicago Public Schools.
"With the forthcoming music facilities, we are entering a phase of excitement and growth," she says. "I am committed to furthering the quality and reputation of the School of Music."
A scholar of early American literature, Rinehart is currently chair of the English department in LAS. She teaches courses in pre-Civil War American literature and the history of literary reading. Prior to her current appointment, she served as associate dean of undergraduate studies in LAS from 2007 to 2011 and as director of undergraduate studies in English from 1997 to 2007. She joined the DePaul faculty in 1992 and has served on numerous committees, including the LAS personnel and curriculum committees and as chair of the LAS Committee on Advising and the Reading Task Force.
"I'm honored by this appointment and well aware that I'm stepping into some big shoes," Rinehart says. "In his many years of leadership, Chuck Suchar has tirelessly supported the college's engagement with the increasingly global city of Chicago through the development of a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and co-curricular programs."
Dedicated to training the next generation of educators, as associate dean, Rinehart helped develop TEACH. The dual-degree program gives undergraduate students in LAS and the College of Science and Health the opportunity to complete their majors and a master's degree, with teaching certification, in the College of Education in five years. She served as co-director of this program from 2010 to 2012.
"The next 18 months, as we search for our permanent dean, provide an excellent opportunity to take stock of, and build on, the strengths of our programs," Rinehart says. "I look forward to collaborating with our dedicated leadership in supporting our diverse and accomplished faculty and fostering cross-curricular pathways for our students to prepare them for the dynamic worlds of work they will enter."
It is my great pleasure to announce the appointment of Salma Ghanem as the next dean of the College of Communication. She will begin her new role on August 4, and we are thrilled to welcome her to DePaul.
Salma is a highly respected leader in the communication field and has earned recognition for her interdisciplinary approach to education. For the past five years, she has served as dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts at Central Michigan University. Prior to her current position, she chaired the Department of Communication at The University of Texas-Pan American for eight years. In both roles, she worked extensively on strategic planning and launched multiple interdisciplinary programs.
At Central Michigan University, for example, she helped develop an online program in strategic social media. At the University of Texas-Pan American, she created a minor in Hispanic Media Studies and a program that combined graphic design and advertising. She also has administered programs in integrative public relations and media, integrative marketing communication and is currently exploring a minor in entrepreneurial and business journalism. Salma earned her B.A. in communication from the University of Texas-Pan American and her Ph.D. in journalism from the University of Texas-Austin. She has published extensively on political communication and intercultural communication.
Salma brings to DePaul professional experience in both health care communication and international diplomacy. She has worked as an information officer in the Press Office of the Egyptian Mission to the United Nations and as a communications specialist at the Scott & White Hospital and Clinic in Texas. Her passion for cultural awareness and interdisciplinary research stems from the fact she herself is an immigrant and was raised by parents who are Egyptian and Dutch. She attended the Sacré Coeur Catholic School in Cairo, Egypt and is fluent in Arabic and French and has considerable skill in Spanish.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to Bruno Teboul, who has served as interim dean for the College of Communication since March 2013. He has worked tirelessly to continue to build a strong college, and we have been very fortunate to have his leadership during this transitional time. I cannot thank him enough. Bruno will take a one-year sabbatical to pursue his scholarly interests.
I also would like to thank the search committee, chaired by Lawrence Hamer. The committee devoted numerous hours to conduct a highly competitive nationwide search. I am most grateful to them. I also am grateful to the many faculty and staff who took time to send their insights on the various candidates. I found them extremely helpful.
In the coming months, Salma will relocate to Chicago with her husband. We look forward to welcoming her to the DePaul family.
Sincerely,
Patricia O’Donoghue Interim Provost
Source: Email to DePaul University Community, May 19, 2014
Saying goodbye to a beloved colleague is never easy. Yet today we must wish two of our dedicated leaders well, as Don Casey, dean of the School of Music, and Chuck Suchar, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, have announced their decisions to retire from DePaul University. While I am sad to see them both leave, I am extraordinarily grateful to have had the opportunity to work with both Don and Chuck these many years. Their legacy will remain a part of DePaul forever.
As dean of the School of Music for 20 years, Don built an extraordinary program. An accomplished scholar and conductor, he came to DePaul in 1995 from Northwestern University, and immediately began transforming the School of Music into the world-class program it is today. Early on, Don realized that the School of Music had a unique advantage, due to its proximity to Chicago’s thriving music scene. He cultivated relationships throughout the city. He recruited extraordinary faculty. He more than tripled the number of endowed scholarships in the School of Music.
Under Don’s leadership, four of the school’s major ensembles rose to a level of such excellence, they are now considered to be among the best in the country—an accomplishment that makes us all proud. Don not only helped significantly raise the performance standards of students, he also elevated the reputation of the school’s faculty and staff. He recognized that a great school of music gives students not only the technical and performance skills they need to succeed, but also the teaching skills to cultivate the next generation of musicians. Making this a high priority, he led a revision of the school’s undergraduate and graduate curricula. Upholding our Vincentian ideals, the Community Music Division now provides music instruction and instruments to 150 children from the lowest economic stratum in Lawndale. Through Don’s legacy, the School of Music will help students realize their own dreams and the dreams of many future musicians to come.
Beyond the School of Music, Don served as one member of three on the Strategic Plan Steering Committee, which developed Vision 2018. We also can thank Don for helping initiate and produce “Christmas at DePaul,” one of DePaul’s most cherished holiday traditions. A role model for students, he has made more than 100 appearances as a music festival guest conductor or adjudicator in 20 states and four Canadian provinces. He has served on the Board of the Grant Park Music Festival since 2001. He led the design efforts for Harmonic Vision, Inc., a music education software company that has reached more than a million children.
Don’s leadership and passion as dean have left the School of Music in a strong position. But in his words, the time has come for him to “pass the baton” to another.
After careful thought and deliberation, Chuck Suchar too has decided to retire from DePaul University. In his nine years serving as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and 43 years as a member of the faculty, Chuck created numerous undergraduate and graduate programs. He diligently worked to provide faculty with resources to support their scholarship. His most personal satisfaction, he will tell you, came from his work with the College Personnel Committee. Chuck represented more than 170 of his colleagues through the tenure and promotion process, and I only can imagine the gratitude and respect each one of those colleagues has for him.
DePaul also can thank him for its highly successful Chicago Quarter program, which introduces all freshmen to the city and culture of Chicago through its Discover & Explore Chicago courses. He chaired the committee that created the Focal Point Seminar Program in Liberal Studies. The impetus to create a service-learning center also came from Chuck. He and Lorrie Worrall, who became the first director of the Steans Center, co-chaired the University Task Force that proposed creating such a service-learning center. He co-edited, “DePaul University, Centennial Essays and Images.” Written in honor of DePaul’s centennial in 1998, this comprehensive history reminds us just how far the university has come since it was that little school under the El.
Throughout his career, Chuck held multiple leadership roles at DePaul. In his college, he served as associate dean for 13 years—six years for undergraduate studies and seven years for graduate studies. For eight years, he chaired the sociology/anthropology department, his academic area of expertise, and served as division head of the behavioral sciences for three years. He also directed DePaul’s university-wide honors program for five years.
As a scholar, Chuck helped develop the field of visual sociology, serving as the president of the International Visual Sociology Association for four years and as associate editor of the journal Visual Studies since its founding to the present day.
Both Don and Chuck will continue to serve as deans through December, at which time they will join their families, who have been waiting patiently for them to retire for many years now. I know Chuck looks forward to the additional time he will have with his wife, children and grandchildren. Don eagerly anticipates more time with his wife, daughter and her husband and his young grandson as well.
In the coming months, I will announce the appointment of interim deans and search committees and seek the advice of faculty and staff in those processes. Please join me in congratulating and thanking Don and Chuck for everything they have done for DePaul .
Gratefully,
Patricia O’Donoghue Interim Provost
Source: Email sent to DePaul University Community, May 7, 2014
I’m writing to share a number of leadership decisions following the Board of Trustees meeting held over the weekend.
After 10 years as president, I will be taking an academic leave this fall, from August 1 to December 31, 2014. Harvard’s Graduate School of Education has offered me its revolving position of “president-in-residence,” where I’ll teach in a graduate course on leadership and governance in higher education and spend the bulk of my time working on a larger writing project. I’m especially grateful to Dr. Judith McLaughlin, director of Harvard’s graduate program in higher education, for the invitation. As some of you know, I’ve been privileged to teach in HGSE’s summer Management Development Program since 2008, and this is very much a homecoming for me.
Dr. Patricia O’Donoghue will assume the role of interim president in my absence, and thenplans to retire January 1, 2015. Pat, as you know, has served as vice president for alumni outreach and engagement and interim provost at DePaul in recent years, but also served as chief academic officer of two other universities and as president at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee.
Dr. David Miller will assume the role of interim provost for the 2014-2015 academic year, while retaining his positionas dean of the College of Computing and Digital Media.
During the recent consultation for an interim provost in the 2014-2015 year, Pat’s name rose constantly from all quarters of the university community, asking that she be reappointed for another year. I spoke with Pat before meeting with our trustees, and she confirmed her intention to retire in January 2015, but agreed to accept this new role if asked. I trust that your vote of confidence will follow her as she temporarily assumes the presidency.
After Pat’s, David’s name was most frequent among the university community’s suggestions for interim provost. A number ofrespondents spoke of the positive way in which he worked closely with faculty leadership these past two years to help draft a more effective faculty handbook, one that has received the strong endorsement of Faculty Council as each chapter received a vote of approval. Others noted his quiet, steady leadership of CDM as dean and his long service and knowledge of the university. I have relied on his knowledge at important moments over the years, finding his judgment balanced and wise. I am glad that he received such a strong endorsement from the university community, and I know he and Pat will work together well when I am away.
I apologize that I was unable to inform you of my planned academic leave when I first consulted you on the question of selecting an interim provost. This had to be affirmed by DePaul’s board at its March 1stmeeting, and the announcement had to be coordinated with Harvard. I simply couldn’t “announce” something that wasn’t yet finalized in all its aspects. And yet, I wanted to know your thoughts as the board and I considered the leadership for the coming year.
During the course of that consultation, more than a few faculty proposed that DePaul consider pushing the search for a new provost into the 2015-2016 academic year, to ensure a strong pool of candidates and to give the interim provost time to undertake and complete some of the more important initiatives before us. I can see pros and cons to this, and so I welcome your thoughts on the matter. David has made clear that he will not be a candidate for the permanent position, but that he is willing to serve until a permanent provost is chosen. If you have thoughts on this question, please send them by April 7th toSECRETARY@DEPAUL.EDU.
Finally, I was aware of the campus conversations about whether I was considering applying for the open presidency of our sister school, St. John’s University, where I began my faculty career 25 years ago. I love SJU, but I did not apply. DePaul is an extraordinary place, filled with faculty and professional staff who are dedicated to our students and to the great educational mission this institution accomplishes each and every year. I love our mission and am deeply committed to it. Even more, I love being part of a community with all of you. While I am taking time next fall for some writing and relaxation, I am also looking forward to returning with redoubled energy to work alongside you.
With gratitude and respect for all you do for this great institution,
Email sent to DePaul University Community on Friday, December 13, 2013:
Dear Campus Colleagues, Effectively immediately and with the approval of the Board of Trustees, I accepted Dr. Donald Pope-Davis' resignation today as provost of DePaul University. While words cannot express our regret that Don's service as provost was so short lived, I certainly respect his decision. Don will be afforded a six-month sabbatical, after which he will teach and conduct research as a fully tenured professor in the department of psychology in the College of Science and Health. Dr. Patricia D. O'Donoghue has agreed to return to the position of interim provost, also effective immediately. We are grateful to Don for serving as provost these past six months. He cares deeply about DePaul University. Please join me in wishing Don the very best in his future endeavors. Sincerely, Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M. President
Source: Email sent December 13, 2013 from the Office of the President.
It gives me great pleasure to announce the appointment of Dr. Gerald Koocher as the next dean of the College of Science and Health. He will begin his new role as dean on July 1. Gerry is a leader in the field of psychology and is recognized for his work as a scholar, a teacher and a practitioner. He is a widely published researcher and clinician and is also a senior lecturer at the Harvard Medical School. He is past president of the American Psychological Association and has served on the staff of the Children's Hospital in Boston.
Gerry has an extensive and distinguished career as a clinical psychologist and an academic, most recently at Simmons College in Boston, where he has served the past 12 years as a dean, associate provost and professor of psychology. He is recognized for his work as a scholar, a teacher and a practitioner. His many years of leadership in higher education have positioned him well for building the future of the College of Science and Health.
A native of Cambridge, Mass., Gerry received his bachelor's degree in psychology from Boston University and his master's degree in psychology and doctoral degree in clinical and developmental psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His areas of research include adaptation to chronic medical illness; development of children's conceptions of death; ethical and public policy issues in delivery of mental health services; and the functioning of institutional review boards. He led early academic efforts to leverage online resources for the creation of new, advanced degrees in the health sciences fields.
Gerry has published scores of articles on a variety of topics and has led numerous professional organizations and committees. He currently serves on panels for the National Institute of Health and National Institute of Mental Health.
Please join me in welcoming Gerry Koocher to DePaul University. To learn more about him, please see his CV at http://csh.depaul.edu/Documents/Koocher-Gerald-CV.pdf.
I also want to take this opportunity to publicly thank Jerry Cleland, who has served as interim dean of the College of Science and Health for the past two years. He has worked tirelessly to lay a strong foundation on which the college can build. DePaul has been fortunate to have his leadership during this initial phase of the life of the College of Science and Health, and we can't thank him enough. Jerry will be returning to the Department of Psychology.
