Hobart and William Smith Colleges President Mark Gearan announced that Dean of Faculty and Provost Dr. Patricia Stranahan had resigned



Hobart and William Smith Colleges President Mark Gearan announced that Dean of Faculty and Provost Dr. Patricia Stranahan had resigned

HWS provost, dean resigns

By BRIAN P. HEFFRON

Times Staff Writer
bheffron@fltimes.com


GENEVA — Hobart and William Smith Colleges Dean of Faculty and Provost Dr. Patricia Stranahan resigned Aug. 24.

Director of Communications Susan Murad confirmed that Stranahan resigned but declined to elaborate, adding that doing so would violate the Colleges’ policy against discussing personnel issues.

President Mark D. Gearan informed staff of the resignation in an e-mail that day.

“I write to inform you that I have accepted the resignation of Patricia Stranahan, Dean of the Faculty and Provost, effective immediately. I am grateful for Patty’s years of service at the Colleges and her work to prepare for the coming academic year. Over the next few days, I will be meeting with the faculty leadership and staff to review our short-term and long-term plans, but feel confident that we are fully prepared for the year,” Gearan wrote.

Gearan also said he was grateful for Stranahan’s accomplishments during her years as provost, including the Colleges’ recent successful Middle States Accreditation Review, the creation of the Center for Teaching and Learning, growth of the Center for Global Education, establishment of the Elizabeth J. Perry Asia Library, and additional faculty.

Stranahan came to the Colleges in May 2001, replacing Sheila Bennett, who was promoted in 2000 to senior vice president but resigned shortly thereafter. Bennett stayed on as an anthropology/sociology professor.

Stranahan previously served as director of Asian studies and taught history at the University of Pittsburgh.

Originally from western Pennsylvania, Stranahan graduated from Westminster College and served as visiting faculty at Grinnell College in Iowa and Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Her 20-year teaching career also includes time teaching at Texas A&M University. In 2001, she was interim vice president for academic affairs at Chatham College in Pittsburgh.

Murad said the Colleges will hold a nationwide search to find a new dean of faculty and provost.

When this story was prepared, here was the front page of PCOL magazine:

This Month's Issue: August 2004 Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and who can come up with the funniest caption for our Current Events Funny? Exclusive: Director Vasquez speaks out in an op-ed published exclusively on the web by Peace Corps Online saying the Dayton Daily News' portrayal of Peace Corps "doesn't jibe with facts." In other news, the NPCA makes the case for improving governance and explains the challenges facing the organization, RPCV Bob Shaconis says Peace Corps has been a "sacred cow", RPCV Shaun McNally picks up support for his Aug 10 primary and has a plan to win in Connecticut, and the movie "Open Water" based on the negligent deaths of two RPCVs in Australia opens August 6. Op-ed's by RPCVs: Cops of the World is not a good goal and Peace Corps must emphasize community development.

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