Language Department Chair Search

For the past year and a half, the Department of Languages has been graciously headed by an interim chair, Professor Jose Caban (also the Chair of Architecture). This year the Department of Languages was able to conduct a national/ international search for the Chair position. The search process started in October 2001 as professors representing a wide range of different languages began to apply for the position, which involves heading a faculty comprising 42 members and representing nine languages, including American Sign Language. The Search Committee evaluating the applications was composed of the following members: Ms. Suzanne Atkinson (Student Services Program Coordinator, Language Dept.), Professor Alton Brant (American Sign Language), Professor John Bednar (French), Nathan Cowan (student representative, Japanese), Professor Paula Heusinkveld (Spanish), Professor Martin Jacobi (Chair of English Dept., outside representative), and Professor Margit M. Sinka (German; Chair of the Search Committee).

All Search Committee members evaluated each application and met in December to draw up a list of candidates to be interviewed at the annual convention of the Modern Language Association, held in New Orleans from Dec. 27th through Dec. 30th. The candidates in the top tiers unable to attend the convention were interviewed by telephone in early January. All interviews, whether at the convention or by phone, lasted close to an hour. Professors Heusinkveld and Sinka conducted the interviews. All candidates were asked to answer the same questions and to address the same topics. These were drawn up by the Search Committee from lists submitted by faculty members from the different language sections.

On the basis of the interviews, three candidates were invited for campus visits (Jan.--Feb.). Each spent at least two full days on campus. Their busy schedules included the following: ca. 6 meals, each with different small groups of faculty members, a campus tour conducted by students, meetings with department heads in the AAH College, with the Associate Deans, and with the Dean of the AAH College. A major event for each candidate was the Friday afternoon meeting with the entire Department of Languages. At that time, candidates presented their visions for the future of the department to the entire faculty and responded to questions from the faculty. These sessions were followed by a social hour with refreshments.

The Search Committee met at the conclusion of all campus interviews in order to compose a report to the Dean of the AAH College of its own impressions and to summarize the written comments that all faculty members had been urged to provide (these comments were also sent to AAH College Dean Jan Schach). Professor Nakuma from the University of Tennessee received the offer of the position. On April 4, 2002, the Department of Languages was informed of the welcome news that all negotiations were concluded and that Professor Constancio K. Nakuma would indeed become the new Chair of the Department of Languages. His tenure starts in July 2002.

Newsletter Spring 2002 Department of Languages Clemson University Editor