As new students adjust to the Saint Louis University campus, five new deans, both interim and permanent, adjust to their positions.

College of Arts and Sciences
Michael Barber, S.J., dean of Philosophy and Letters, has agreed to serve as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for the next academic year. The dean of two schools, Barber said that his involvement at SLU has been hectic thus far.
Barber has played an active role in preparing the College of Arts and Sciences for the transition to its new graduate program, and says that the process has been complex. “We have to work to make sure this runs smoothly,” Barber said, as he explained that figuring budget allocations for the graduate program has been difficult. “It’s a very complicated process and I actually think it will take a year for us to on top of all the details.”
Aside from his two current dean positions, Barber said that he also plans to teach a course this semester that will orient students to the College of Philosophy and Letters.
Although he has multiple obligations, Barber said that he has been receiving help from several associate deans and administrative assistants. “The staff here at the college is magnificent,” Barber said.
Barber took the interim position when Don Brennan, the former dean of Arts and Sciences, announced his resignation. Barber said he will strive to promote diversity on campus as Brennan did when he served on the President’s Diversity Council and the Arts and Sciences Faculty Council. “Those are some wonderful things that [Brennan] did that I’d like to continue to ensure our college is a college where everyone is respected,” Barber said.
Brennan has decided to engage in a sabbatical leave for the fall semester and said he plans to return to SLU to continue teaching in spring.
“I need a semester to retool as a teacher and learning facilitator to provide our students the kind of education they deserve,” Brennan said. “I entered the academy because of my love for teaching and learning with and from my students and I look forward to ending my career doing this very thing.”

Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
Manoj Patankar has been promoted to vice president for Frost Campus, thus his previous position as dean of Parks College is vacant. Currently Krishnaswamy Ravindra, who served as associate dean for the past year, has agreed to serve as interim dean for the next academic year.
Ravinda, who has been a part of the SLU community for 23 years, has held the position as the department chair in aerospace and mechanical engineering since 1996, and was a graduate program coordinator and a faculty senator. “I’ve had a lot of leadership experience,” Ravindra said.
However, Ravindra said he is not sure if he will be a viable candidate as a permanent dean of Parks College.
“I’m still thinking about it, but I am not sure if I will continue or go back to teaching,” Ravindra said. “It’s all kind of murky right now.”

School of Public Health
The School of Public Health has named a dean to succeed Homer Schmitz, who has served as the interim dean for the past two years and plans to continue as a member of the faculty.
Edwin Trevathan has been asked to serve as a permanent dean for the School of Public Health. Trevathan directs the National Center on Birth Defects and Development Disabilities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Ga.
Trevathan has previously served as the director of the division of pediatric and developmental neurology and as a professor at Washington University.
He was also the neurologist-in-chief at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Trevathan said he is drawn to SLU because of the Jesuit mission. In a press release, he stated, “For many of us, the School of Public Health is a place where our faith is a manifested by action to prevent death and disability worldwide, while preparing a great army of graduates who scatter around the world to improve health.”
Trevathan’s position will be effective Sept. 13.

Education and Public Service
Gerard Fowler has agreed to serve as interim dean of the College of Education and Public Service. He is succeeding John Watzke, who has accepted the position as the dean of education at the University of Portland.
Fowler has been a part of the SLU community since 1971, and is a member of the faculty as well as the program director for the higher education administration.
He has acted as the vice president for student development and as the interim director of athletics.
Fowler previously served as dean of students at Florida State University and received a judicial degree from the School of Law at Saint Louis University.
“I am honored to be asked to lead the college during this period of transition,” Fowler said.

School of Law
Sandra Johnson has agreed to serve as interim dean for the School of Law for the next academic year. Johnson has served the SLU community as a faculty member since 1978 as a professor of law and health care ethics.
Johnson is taking over the position after Jeffrey Lewis announced his resignation last spring after serving as dean for 11 years.
Lewis plans to return to teaching full-time in the law school.
Johnson is not new to the position, as she served as interim dean once before and as associate dean for academic affairs.
Johnson also held the provost position at SLU from 1998 to 2002.