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May 3, 2006

Liberal Arts

Interim chair takes permanent position

The Communication Department named Charla Markham Shaw chair after an unsuccessful 2-year search.

Story by: Elizabeth White

The Shorthorn staff

After a search committee failed to find a suitable candidate for the Communication Department chair, interim chair Charla Markham Shaw was named permanent chair, effective June 1.

David Silva, linguistics chair and associate professor, led the chair search. He said the search was concluded without finding someone appropriate to hire but was unable to give more details about the applicants due to privacy issues.

“I was determined not to hire just anybody to chair this important department,” he said. “It was unfortunate that the searches did not yield any candidates.”

This is the second time in two years that the Communication Department has searched for a chair, and both tries were unsuccessful, according to Silva. He said the hiring process is complicated, and between the difficulties of the search and the pool of applicants, no one was found who fit the department’s needs.

“One has to find candidates that are both qualified and can provide the kind of leadership and vision that a

particular department needs,” he said. “Given the pool of applicants, there were none fit those criteria.”

The College of Liberal Arts Dean’s Office made the decision to hire Dr. Markham Shaw.

Liberal Arts Dean Beth Wright said Markham Shaw has the support of both the dean’s office and the department, and was hired as the permanent chair — despite not applying for the job — based upon her eight years of experience as associate chair.

“We feel that she has not only an excellent record of achievement, but the full confidence of the department,” Wright said.

The search committee interviewed several candidates for the position, but none of them fit the faculty’s criteria, said Ivana Segvic, a communication assistant professor who was on the committee. She said the committee was looking for someone with good leadership skills and a vision for the department that would fit in, and is pleased with Markham Shaw continuing in the position.

“I think, in the end, it is a terrific selection,” she said. “She cares and has a vision for the department. We all respect her very much.”

Markham Shaw said that as permanent chair, she would be taking a hard look at curriculum content, seeing that the current course outline is workable for students, and hiring new faculty.

“We will continue to develop our program,” she said. “We want our students to have what they need to be successful in their classes.”

Markham Shaw said she hadn’t applied for the position because she had wanted to focus more on teaching, but she accepts the necessity of the office.

“I do know that it was not my intent to be permanent chair,” Markham Shaw said. “It takes me out of the classroom more than I would like, but we all have to do what is needed. At this particular time, I recognize that this is where I’m needed.”