By Alyssa Allemand and Robin Gee
Melanie Herzog, dean of arts and sciences at Edgewood College, is resigning on March 31. She announced her future resignation at the School of Arts and Sciences assembly on Jan. 17.
Associate Professor of Philosophy John Fields will take over the position beginning April 1. He previously served as dean of arts and sciences from August 2012-June 2018.
Herzog said before she even considered resigning partway through the semester, she needed to know that Fields would be willing to come back as dean. “He’s so smart and articulate and knows how to make the case for what the School of Arts and Sciences needs,” she said.
Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) and Academic Dean Margaret Noreuil, who replaced Dean Pribbenow after his resignation early January, also approached Fields about the position and approved the transition.
Herzog said she feels bringing Fields on as dean is what’s best for the institution and the School of Arts and Sciences. “I think that with the restructuring that’s going to happen,” she said, “the School of Arts and Sciences needs someone in place who is respected as a solid and trusted leader.”
Her resignation is through one of the voluntary separation packages that were offered by the college at the end of November. Herzog said it’s a “privilege” to be able to leave her position at Edgewood College with pay and have time to decide what she will do next. She has plans to work on her academic writing.
Faculty reactions
Faculty responses to Herzog’s announcement at the Jan. 17 meeting were warm but sad.
Lisa King, associate professor of philosophy and co-director of women’s and gender studies, thanked Herzog for taking on the position of dean “at the most precarious time in my career at the college.”
Geoffrey Adelsberg, assistant professor of philosophy, said the “circumstances under which you’re leaving are highly distressing.”
Talks of restructuring, general education
At the Jan. 17 meeting, faculty raised questions about the potential transition into two schools. Edgewood currently has five: education, business, nursing, arts and sciences, and integrative studies.
A possible outcome is that the School of Arts and Sciences may combine with education and integrative studies. The position of dean of this new school is ultimately up to the VPAA and Interim President Sister Mary Ellen Gevelinger.
Herzog said she proposed faculty meeting regularly to discuss restructuring and the merger of the schools, but “was told to pull back by Margaret (Noreuil) and Mary Ellen (Gevelinger) from having people get together to meet together about merging the schools.”
Fields said his concern about the academic schools’ transition is a reason he took the offer to replace Herzog. “I would be fully committed to staying in this job for at least a year and a half,” he said, though he hopes to return as faculty by the end of July 2021.
The original deadline for restructuring plans was Nov. 15; however, at a college assembly on Nov. 18, Gevelinger announced that Edgewood’s board of trustees did not vote on a plan at their meeting Nov. 14. There is currently no deadline set for the restructuring proposal, according to Herzog.
All the deans will attend a meeting next week to focus on how the college with restructure the academic schools and programs.
Faculty are also working on changes to the general education requirements, starting with what is accepted by the college as transfer credit.
Faculty departure
At January seminar on Jan. 15, Gevelinger announced that 22 faculty have taken voluntary separation packages or decided to leave the college for other jobs. However, sources say that on Jan. 16, Noreuil said some of these 22 people are still deciding. The names of these faculty have not been made public.
Herzog said adjunct and lecturer contracts will be sent out at the end of the semester or sometime during the summer after workloads and positions have been analyzed based on those who have decided to leave the college.
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