Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the creation of the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Dean’s Search Committee. This is the first step in the important process to recruit, review, and recommend candidates for the next Dean of COLSA.

The committee includes the following members:

Bolker, Jessica - jbolker@cisunix.unh.edu, Associate Professor, Dept. of Zoology
Conroy, Drew - drew.conroy@unh.edu, Professor, Thompson School of Applied Sciences
Cooper, Vaughn - vaughn.cooper@unh.edu, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Microbiology
Cote, Rick (co-chair) - rick.cote@unh.edu, Professor, Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
French, Charlie - charlie.french@unh.edu, Extension Educator
Frey, Serita - serita.frey@unh.edu, Associate Professor, Dept. of Natural Resources
Halstead, John - johnh@christa.unh.edu, Professor, Dept. of Resource Economics and Development
Hrabak , Estelle - estelle.hrabak@unh.edu, Associate Professor, Dept. of Plant Biology
Merrill, Lorraine - lorraine.merrill@comcast.net
Reilly, Ruth - ruth.reilly@unh.edu, Clinical Asst. Professor, Dept. of Animal and Nutritional Sciences
Richards, Harry (co-chair) - harry.richards@unh.edu Dean, Graduate School
Sawtelle, Tina - tina.sawtelle@unh.edu, Director, COLSA Business Service Center
Schwab, Chuck - charles.schwab@unh.edu, Professor, Dept. of Animal and Nutritional Sciences
Short, Fred - fred.short@unh.edu, Research Professor, Dept. of Natural Resources

The Dean of COLSA will have a demonstrated commitment to undergraduate and graduate education and a deep understanding of curriculum design, assessment of student outcomes, and research in biological sciences, natural resources, agriculture, and related social sciences. She or he will exercise high academic standards that reflect intellectual rigor and integrity; strong, visionary leadership grounded in successful experience with unit-level strategic planning; successful administrative experience, including personnel and program management, budget development and management, and planning; as well as a significant record of accomplishment in teaching and research and effective communication skills necessary for strategic leadership and collegial relationships.

The Dean oversees recruitment and retention of students, faculty and staff; the administration of School, University, and System policies; directs all outreach and community engagement initiatives; manages and develops the School’s fiscal and capital resources; and participates with other University deans in governance, strategic planning, and institutional assessment. The Dean serves as member of the UNH Deans Council and reports directly to the Provost and Executive Vice President.

Dr. Wanda Mitchell, Vice Provost for Diversity, will work closely with the committee to create a strong and diverse pool of candidates, through both formal and informal means. I expect that we will find such candidates both externally and internally.

The Search Committee will be assisted in its recruitment and review efforts by EFL Associates, a nationally recognized academic executive search firm with extensive experience in related academic leadership positions. Ultimately, it is the Search Committee who will determine finalists for campus interviews and make final recommendations to me. Our goal will be to appoint the new dean as close to July 1, 2007 as possible.

I encourage all members of the University Community to utilize your professional networks in order to forward qualified nominations to the Committee. Nominations and other communication with the Committee can be addressed to: UNH@eflassociates.com.

Sincerely,

Bruce L. Mallory
Provost and Executive Vice President