Ohio University is adding another dean hunt to the laundry list of administrative-replacement searches being conducted by the provost’s office.
Charles McWeeny, dean of the College of Fine Arts, announced in an email to the college Monday that he will step down as dean June 30. He will continue working at OU as a faculty member.
McWeeny has been in the dean’s office for 11 years, spending the last seven as dean and previous four as associate dean. His current salary is $186,877.
“I’m ready to go back to teaching and making my art,” he said. “It’s what I aspired to do originally.”
McWeeny said he never perceived himself as a career administrator and has always wanted to return to a teaching role, adding that he did not make his final decision until shortly before Monday’s announcement.
An email was sent to all tenured and tenure-track faculty in the College of Fine Arts from the provost inviting all individuals with significant leadership and experience to apply for the interim position.
An interim dean will likely be appointed in the first or second week of April. OU will hire a search firm and conduct a national search for the permanent replacement dean for the next academic year, said Ann Fidler, chief of staff to OU Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit.
McWeeny said he intends to help the chosen interim in any way he can.
“I’ve been working at this college for a long time and have tremendous respect for the faculty and students,” he said.
Although it is yet to be determined where McWeeny will go after stepping down, he has tenure in the School of Art and told Benoit he will teach wherever he is needed.
“The college will be very sorry to see him go, but he needs to do what will work best for him,” said Madeleine Scott, director for the School of Dance and interim director for the School of Theater.
Scott said she believes McWeeny will be helpful in assisting with the interim dean’s transition.
“He’s been a great supporter of our college and provided stellar programming and support during his time as dean,” she said.
In the past year, the deans of four other academic colleges at OU left or announced their departures. They include Ben Ogles, former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Greg Shepherd, former dean of the Scripps College of Communication; Rathindra Bose, former Vice President for Research and dean of the Graduate College; and Jack Brose, outgoing dean of the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
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