UPDATED: Colleges of HSS and PVA see resignations of deans

UNC’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Performing and Visual Arts will both have different deans heading into next fall.

 

Nate Hass, the director of Media Relations for the University of Northern Colorado, confirmed Thursday that David Caldwell and Andrew Svedlow, the deans of HSS and PVA, respectively, both resigned from their positions but will remain full-time faculty at the university.

 

Acting Provost Robbyn Wacker said Thursday Caldwell resigned in March and Svedlow resigned just last week, but both will stay through the end of the academic year. Both deans held their positions for the past seven years.

 

 

“When people think through the next steps in their careers, it’s a personal thing, but they decided they had succeeded in their roles and wanted to go back to faculty roles,” Wacker said. “Generally what happens when deans come in, they’re tenured into their discipline, and they can revert back to faculty positions, and both will go back to teaching classes in their disciplines and both are looking forward to it, they say.”

 

In a statement Svedlow released to his colleagues in the CPVA, he said he greatly enjoyed his time as a dean and is excited to take on more of a teaching role.

 

"I have been honored to have had the privilege of working with you in enhancing the programs and profile of our College these past seven years," Svedlow's statement read. "I will truly miss being part of the leadership of our very fine College and I am excited about devoting my energies to the students in the School of Art and Design and to working with my colleagues in the School to build upon their strong traditions in the preparation of professional artists, designers, art historians, and art educators."

 

Wacker said Vergie Amendola, a professor of music, will serve as the interim PVA dean during the search process to find a replacement.

 

In Caldwell's statement of resignation, he expressed similar sentiments about leaving his position.

 

"Serving as the college’s first dean over these past seven years has been a gratifying experience," Caldwell's statement said. "We successfully navigated two organizational restructurings, the first of which created the college in 2005. With the most recent organization of the college into a mix of programs, departments and schools now settling into its third year, I find this an opportune time to consider opportunities and needs that lie outside the responsibilities of college administration and to devote time once again to teaching and research."

 

No indication was given as to what courses Caldwell would teach, but Svedlow confirmed Friday that he will be teaching courses of Chinese art history, Japanese art history and an honors seminar in aesthetics, in addition to other courses in the School of Art and Design should they become available or necessary.

 

Wacker said she and the chairs of HSS hope to have an interim dean named for that college in the next few weeks.

 

Wacker said the search process includes the formation of a job description and a search committee, which are decided on by her and the chairs of each college.

 

“The search committee also includes students because we very much want to include students in the process,” she said. “We really value and engage students in that process.”