Re: Gazzaniga

>Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2004 15:58:59 -0400 (EDT)

>From: James.E.Wright@Dartmouth.EDU

>To: arts-science-employees-announce@locum.dartmouth.edu

>Subject: Announcement

>Sender: massmail-sender@locum.dartmouth.edu

>Precedence: bulk

Dear Colleagues:

I am writing to let you know that Michael S. Gazzaniga informed me today that he wished to step down from his position as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. He would like to return to the work that he loves and in which he excels as a national leader in Psychological and Brain Sciences. As you know, Mike has brought great strength to Dartmouth as the David T. McLaughlin Distinguished University Professor and the Director of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience. He has recently received two major research grants and will continue his path-breaking work in cognitive neuroscience. He will also be continuing his work as the recently elected President of the American Psychological Society and as a member of President George Bush’s Council on Bioethics.

I would like to thank Mike for his work as dean for the past two years where he has championed faculty scholarship and has expanded the number and ambitions of the faculty. He has worked to resolve pressing space needs for several departments. He has encouraged cross-disciplinary connections within the Arts and Sciences and with the professional schools, which he will continue to do as the only University Professor at Dartmouth.

Both Mike and I very much regret the differences among the faculty and pledge to work together to resolve them. Dartmouth has excelled in hiring and retaining faculty who care deeply about teaching and scholarship and in creating a collaborative environment for students and faculty. We must continue to encourage this strength.

Mike will remain as dean through Commencement and following that until an acting dean assumes responsibilities. I will be meeting with the Committee on Organization and Policy and the Committee Advisory to the President within the next few days to discuss the appointment of an interim dean, which I will announce as soon as possible. I would like to thank the members of these committees for their advice and wisdom. These are incredibly dedicated and hard-working colleagues.

I would also like to thank Provost Barry Scherr and the associate deans Carol Folt, Lenore Grenoble, Michael Mastanduno, and Martin Wybourne for the work they have done and continue to do on behalf of the faculty. You are well served by their commitment and dedication to the College.

Sincerely,

James Wright