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April 6, 2007

Administration

Dunn resigns as provost to teach

Ron Elsenbaumer, VP for research, will temporarily fill the position.

Story by: Adam Russell

The Shorthorn staff

After 10 years in various university administrative roles, culminating with her position as provost and Academic Affairs vice president, Dana Dunn announced Thursday she will resign her office and resume her teaching career beginning fall 2008.

Dunn’s resignation officially takes effect on Aug 31.

Citing the need to fully engage herself in academics as a faculty member and the hope for a less-consuming schedule, Dunn said she looks forward to her return to the classroom.

“I miss teaching, and I miss doing research,” she said. “You reach a point where you realize that if you are going to have a career bend, or a second career or third career, that it takes some time to get back on that path and to fully engage in it, and I look forward to doing that.”

Dunn began her administrative career as Women’s Studies director in fall 1994 and assumed the provost position 10 years later after taking various positions within the administration.

President James Spaniolo said Dunn’s presence in the office will be greatly missed and that Dunn has set the tone for academic excellence at the university.

“She has been an advocate as well as a leader for strengthening the university,” he said. “Since I have been here, we have devoted a lot of time and effort into recruiting, hiring and retaining top faculty, and that wouldn’t happen without the leadership in the Provost Office.”

Dunn said she has not mapped out specific projects in which to immerse herself, but she expects it would include her previous work in women’s studies and the sociology of education.

“With my recent experience in administration, I may elect to combine with that background,” she said. “I want to take a little time to think about how I want to spend the rest of my career.”

Spaniolo said the university is losing an administrator but gaining an outstanding faculty member.

Dunn said she expects her broad academic portfolio will allow the Sociology and Anthropology Department to assign her a position that will accommodate both herself and the department. She has not spoken with department chair Robert Young about what classes she may teach.

Ron Elsenbaumer, vice president for research, will replace Dunn as provost on an interim basis effective Sept. 1.

“It’s important that we maintain the momentum that Provost Dunn so capably provided,” he said. “I am honored to continue to serve the university in this new capacity.”

Spaniolo will appoint a search committee in the next several months to seek provost candidates, both internally and outside the university.

Dunn said the timing could not have been better for her return to teaching.

“I know that things here are on very solid ground and there is an exciting future ahead, so I am very confident that the university is going to move forward on a trajectory for success,” she said. “I am comfortable going back to faculty because this is the kind of place where I want to be.”