By Josh Freeman /// News Editor
After a nationwide search, St. Mary’s College of Maryland announced current Lewis & Clark Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Tuajuanda Jordan as president-elect last Wednesday, March 19.
ASLC president Musa Ahmed (’14) sent a brief email Wednesday afternoon announcing Jordan’s departure, as well as the procedures in place to minimize disruption to the College’s operations.
“Next year, a faculty [member] will be chosen to serve as the interim dean, until the search for a new dean is complete,” Ahmed said in an email to the student body.
Jordan came to LC in 2011 from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, where she served as the director of the Science Education Alliance. During her tenure as dean, Jordan parlayed that experience into attracting several science grants aimed at expanding student research and involvement in the community, including a million dollar grant from HHMI to expand undergraduate interest in K-12 science education.
Jordan’s tenure also marked the creation of the Center for Entrepreneurship, the Venture competition and an Entrepreneurial Innovation course. Positioned as “the practical application of the liberal arts,” the program marked the return of a business-focused curriculum to LC academics.
In addition, the Dean played a prominent role during the racial intimidation controversy and Walk the Talk movement during fall semester, calling several special faculty meetings to address the issue.
The sudden departure of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences after three years continues a recent trend of high turnover in that office, which has seen a revolving door of newcomers and interim faculty since the departure of Dean and Professor Curtis N. Johnson in 2006.
Jordan begins her term as the president of St. Mary’s College of Maryland effective July 1.
Further coverage of Dean Jordan’s departure available in the coming weeks and on piolog.com.
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