Spring Break
Barbara Conry named interim dean, replaces the late Sagatun-Edwards
David Zugnoni
Issue date: 5/15/07 Section: News
Barbara Conry, who acted as dean of the College of Applied Sciences and Arts since former dean Inger Sagatun-Edwards became ill, was appointed interim dean on May 8 by San Jose State University Provost Carmen Sigler.
According to a memo Sigler sent to the campus community, Conry was unanimously recommended by chairs and directors in CASA, President Don Kassing and the executive committee of the Academic Senate to fill in for Sagatun-Edwards, who died from pancreatic cancer on April 2.
A national search for a permanent dean will commence early in the Fall 2007 semester, according to the memo.
Conry served under Sagatun-Edwards as associate dean during the spring and fall semesters of 2006 and Spring 2007 before taking over in Sagatun-Edwards' absence.
She has been serving as interim chair of the department of hospitality management and interim chair of the department of recreation and leisure studies, but said she will be relieved of those duties, and she cannot release the names of her replacements.
She said it is a privilege to be appointed interim dean.
"I'm honored to serve in this capacity," Conry said. "The administration has been extremely supportive in this interim time."
She said she will do her best to honor Sagatun-Edwards' aims as dean.
"This is a strong college," Conry said, "and I want to make sure that it will remain strong."
She said she will focus on recruiting the "best and brightest" faculty possible and supporting the programs Sagatun-Edwards was behind, such as a program in which students can work with victims of domestic violence.
She said she is trying to involve as many departments in the program as possible.
She also said SJSU is renewing its relationship with Stanford University, Sagatun-Edwards' alma mater.
Shirley Reekie, chair of the department of kinesiology, one of the chairs who recommended Conry, said it has been "absolutely wonderful" working with her before and since she became acting dean of the college.
According to a memo Sigler sent to the campus community, Conry was unanimously recommended by chairs and directors in CASA, President Don Kassing and the executive committee of the Academic Senate to fill in for Sagatun-Edwards, who died from pancreatic cancer on April 2.
A national search for a permanent dean will commence early in the Fall 2007 semester, according to the memo.
Conry served under Sagatun-Edwards as associate dean during the spring and fall semesters of 2006 and Spring 2007 before taking over in Sagatun-Edwards' absence.
She has been serving as interim chair of the department of hospitality management and interim chair of the department of recreation and leisure studies, but said she will be relieved of those duties, and she cannot release the names of her replacements.
She said it is a privilege to be appointed interim dean.
"I'm honored to serve in this capacity," Conry said. "The administration has been extremely supportive in this interim time."
She said she will do her best to honor Sagatun-Edwards' aims as dean.
"This is a strong college," Conry said, "and I want to make sure that it will remain strong."
She said she will focus on recruiting the "best and brightest" faculty possible and supporting the programs Sagatun-Edwards was behind, such as a program in which students can work with victims of domestic violence.
She said she is trying to involve as many departments in the program as possible.
She also said SJSU is renewing its relationship with Stanford University, Sagatun-Edwards' alma mater.
Shirley Reekie, chair of the department of kinesiology, one of the chairs who recommended Conry, said it has been "absolutely wonderful" working with her before and since she became acting dean of the college.
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