SHANNON URTNOWSKI
News Editor
With Seaver College dean David Baird scheduled to retire at the end of the semester, Pepperdine has been conducting an international search since mid-October to select his successor.
The Seaver Dean Search Committee, which is comprised of eight Pepperdine community members, including faculty and staff, was organized to spearhead the effort.
“We have a very dedicated and serious search committee,” said Darryl Tippens, the university provost and chair of the committee, in an e-mail. “Given their care and professionalism, I am confident that we will have a good outcome. We are on track, I would say.”
Tippens was selected to chair the committee because he serves as Pepperdine’s provost, and the Seaver Faculty FAQ Handbook has outlined since 1990 that provosts be given this responsibility.
The other members of the committee were selected due to their faculty roles on campus or by a recommendation from Tippens.
The committee has been working to find a new dean of Seaver College since the fall, but have gathered weekly for meetings that last between two and three hours each since January, according to Associate Professor of History and Latin American studies Darlene Rivas, a committee member.
“This is an important decision, and we want to do all we can to make sure that we bring forward the best possible candidates for the rest of the university community to get to know,” she said. “We just want to be very careful and thorough. We’re trying to do the job well.”
In addition, Tippens and Rivas, chair of the Religion division Randall Chestnutt, present-elect of the Seaver Faculty Association and associate professor of communication John Jones, professor of psychology Cindy Miller-Perrin, and Seaver alumna and parent Tari Rokus are also members of the committee.
The committee has received thousands of applications from interested candidates, and Tippens said the search has been going well.
“I have been gratified by the level of interest in the position,” he said. “Many people — both inside and outside of the college — have expressed interest in the position. And, many candidates have been nominated or have applied.”
Tippens said that, within the month, the committee hopes to have the list of finalists for the position narrowed down to three people. Once the list of finalists is confirmed, the university will be made aware of the choices, according to Chestnutt.
“At that time the university community will have the opportunity to meet these candidates and offer feedback to the committee before final recommendations are made to President Benton,” Chestnutt said in an e-mail.
Tippens said the committee hopes to have made an overall decision about who will serve as Seaver College’s next dean before the current term is over.
President Andrew K. Benton said he commends the efforts of the committee, as the search process has been long and involved.
“I have considered this to be one of our greatest challenges since David Baird announced he would step down at the end of the year,” Benton said, “but I have learned over the years that challenge also becomes opportunity quickly.”
Rivas said there have been challenges, but the process has overall been positive.
“We have differences, of course, but as far as the student-centered, mission-oriented direction, I feel like we have so much in common, and that’s refreshing,” Rivas said of the Seaver Dean Search Committee members.
Overall, Jones said the committee members are looking for the same qualities in the next Seaver College dean.
“We want someone who will continue Dean Baird’s commitment to the mission of Pepperdine and to excellent teaching and scholarship and research and service,” Jones said. “We want to build on the foundation that he’s laid.”
Baird, who has served as the dean of Seaver College for 10 years, has had the opportunity to oversee everything from faculty and student affairs, international programs, financial aid and admissions. He said he welcomes his retirement and wishes the next dean of the college well.
“They should wake up every morning excited about the opportunities before them,” Baird said. “It’s been spectacular.”
Baird said he plans to spend some of his retirement on sabbatical, conducting research and writing a book, hopefully on the history of the university.
Benton, who said he feels privileged to know Baird both professionally and personally, is confident that Pepperdine will find a “worthy successor” for Baird.
“I think this will be an interesting and promising new chapter for Seaver College,” Benton said. “The dean we select will build on the great values David has added during his term of service.”
02-14-2008
