Group to look for Falk's replacement
Committee tasked with finding new Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences
Having only one undergraduate on the committee, however, was not necessarily issue for him.
"It is not really a question of quantity, but of quality and the power of Katelyn's ideas and views," he said.
"It's probably important to keep a committee like this one fairly small simply from the practical standpoint of being able to schedule meetings and keep the process going," committee member and English Professor Frances Ferguson said.
Douglas compared the process of undergraduate involvement in the dean selection to having such students working in laboratory research.
"We work closely with students and allow the power of their ideas to give them a voice not often shared by undergraduates at other institutions," he said.
"I look forward to this same culture of the power of good ideas being what counts rather than the titles that a person might have."
The committee plans to ask for nominations of potential candidates from undergraduates and other faculty members.
"Even before the committee has met, I can predict that we'll be asking for nominations of strong candidates, but won't be consulting faculty and students informally to ask what they think of particular candidates. Confidentiality is very important in a search of this kind," Ferguson said.
Douglas hoped his experience as a former interim dean would give the committee a perspective on what challenges their selection would be facing at Hopkins.
History Professor Gabrielle Spiegel also brings administrative experience to the committee, having served as the Dean of Faculty for two years.
Spiegel will be looking for a candidate who understands or would be willing to learn about "the particular research culture of the school."
Ferguson agreed to be on the committee because she thinks "that the selection of a dean is one of the most important decisions that students and faculty confront."
A major factor in her selection process will be the academic standing of the candidate.
"It is not really a question of quantity, but of quality and the power of Katelyn's ideas and views," he said.
"It's probably important to keep a committee like this one fairly small simply from the practical standpoint of being able to schedule meetings and keep the process going," committee member and English Professor Frances Ferguson said.
Douglas compared the process of undergraduate involvement in the dean selection to having such students working in laboratory research.
"We work closely with students and allow the power of their ideas to give them a voice not often shared by undergraduates at other institutions," he said.
"I look forward to this same culture of the power of good ideas being what counts rather than the titles that a person might have."
The committee plans to ask for nominations of potential candidates from undergraduates and other faculty members.
"Even before the committee has met, I can predict that we'll be asking for nominations of strong candidates, but won't be consulting faculty and students informally to ask what they think of particular candidates. Confidentiality is very important in a search of this kind," Ferguson said.
Douglas hoped his experience as a former interim dean would give the committee a perspective on what challenges their selection would be facing at Hopkins.
History Professor Gabrielle Spiegel also brings administrative experience to the committee, having served as the Dean of Faculty for two years.
Spiegel will be looking for a candidate who understands or would be willing to learn about "the particular research culture of the school."
Ferguson agreed to be on the committee because she thinks "that the selection of a dean is one of the most important decisions that students and faculty confront."
A major factor in her selection process will be the academic standing of the candidate.
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