Ohio University’s College of Arts and Sciences announced yesterday that Howard Dewald will serve as its interim dean upon the departure of current dean Ben Ogles.
Ogles announced April 15 he will leave OU to serve as the dean of the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences at Brigham Young University, his alma mater. His last day at OU will be July 1, after which Dewald will take over his duties.
Ogles’ salary this year was $191,900. Dewald’s salary was $85,078.
“Howard has a compelling set of characteristics that make him well suited to provide effective leadership for the college,” stated Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit in an email to Arts and Sciences faculty members. “His judgment, experience, and dedication to Arts and Sciences students, faculty and staff are exceptional. I also was impressed with his knowledge of the quality and contributions of units across the institution.”
Dewald could not be reached for comment.
The College of Arts and Sciences searched within its current employees for an interim dean, said Ann Fidler, Benoit’s chief of staff, in April.
Dewald is currently an associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, according to an OU news release. He has worked at OU for almost 25 years and teaches in the biochemistry and chemistry department.
During Dewald’s nine years as an associate dean, he has been a key player in major decisions for the college, including those regarding information technology and research, Ogles said. The dean added he believes Dewald was a good choice to fill in once he leaves.
“He’s been like my right arm,” Ogles said. “He’s been working in my office for nine years. Essentially, I learned how to do my job from him and the other associate deans.”
Benoit chose Dewald yesterday; he was picked from a total of three candidates in the college for interim dean, Fidler said.
“(Dewald) has had a great deal of experience in the college’s office,” Fidler said. “He is widely respected by faculty and staff in the college. And he is a person of integrity with great ideas.”
Officials in the college wanted to name an interim dean as quickly as possible so that person could begin training with Ogles during the remainder of the current dean’s time here, Fidler said.
Ogles also emphasized the importance of his last few weeks as dean.
“We have much work to accomplish in the few weeks remaining in this academic year,” Ogles said in an email to the Arts and Sciences faculty members detailing his departure. “I hope that I can be helpful and effective even in the final stretch of my service.”
In April, the college began the process of forming a search committee to find Ogles’ replacement, and officials are still forming the committee now. OU has not set a deadline by which to find the new dean.
“We’ll be done when we find the right person,” Fidler said.
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