2008 Woodie Awards
Independent researcher says CMU should surpass others
Davidson believes dean should help staff succeed
By: Mike Wayland
Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: News
|
In fact, he was the first member of his family to attend college.
Davison, an independent researcher and an adjunct curator for the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, said Central Michigan University should not emulate other universities, but become better than them.
"It's important to look at the other publicly funded institutions in Michigan and identify areas that this university - this college can move into that will allow us to be successful," Davison said. "The goal is not to become Michigan State, the goal is to become a better university than Michigan State."
Davison is the third of four finalists to visit CMU for an open forum to answer questions and meet faculty to replace Robert Kohrman, who retired as CMU's College of Science and Technology dean in December after serving for 10 years.
Davison said the responsibility of the dean is to put the college in a position where faculty and staff may succeed. If the dean is doing this properly, Davison said, the university won't notice him doing it.
"The dean has to work with (faculty and staff) to establish the highest possible standards of scholarship or teaching and work with (faculty and staff) and the students and others to formulate a vision for the college," he said.
Once that vision is clear, the next step is to make that vision a reality by working together, Davison said, because even though he is from London, he is not "Harry Potter with a magical wand."
At each forum, the question has been raised about a potential medical school and James Gillingham, a CMU biology professor, asked Davison what he thought about the idea.
"If it happens, I think what ...this college especially needs to do is to think creatively about how we can be part of that initiative and benefit from it," Davison said.
The once marine science, botany and biology teacher of 16 years at the University of Maine said the reason he wants to come to CMU is to make a difference in the university.
William J. Brittain, vice president of polymer and surface sciences at Bausch and Lomb, is the last candidate to have a forum for the dean position. His forum is from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. today in Brooks 201.
"The search committee has appreciated the involvement (of the faculty and staff) a great deal," said Thomas Moore, library dean and head of the search committee. "It's a big decision to choose a dean."
news@cm-life.com
Be the first to comment on this story