McCardell Taps Hartman for New Role • Announces Other Management Changes

Vice-Chancellor John McCardell, in his remarks at an Aug. 26 gathering, announced a series of changes to the upper-level management of the University.

“I am pleased to announce that Eric Hartman has agreed to take on a new assignment, effective July 1, 2015, as vice president for risk management and institutional effectiveness,” McCardell said. This area has become “exceedingly important,” he said. Hartman will continue to serve as dean of students through December. 

McCardell said, “I know you will join me in not only thanking Eric for taking on this new task, but also for his devoted and energetic leadership as dean of students.”

“I’m truly excited about this opportunity,” Hartman said. “As this is my 19th orientation, it should be clear that I love this Mountain, our community and this institution. I’ve spent my career trying to make our shared lives responsive to the opportunities and difficulties that can happen on a college campus. Being the dean of students at Sewanee has been a daily privilege to live, to play, to manage and to learn aside faculty and students.” Hartman said that in his new role, he will continue to do these things from a new post.

McCardell also announced that there will be an “integration of the student life sector of the college into what, under the leadership of our new dean of the College, Terry Papillon, will be a coordinated and coherent approach to the affairs of the College as a whole.” As part of this, Lee Ann Backlund will assume the title of vice president for enrollment management and dean of admission and financial aid.

In a statement released Aug. 27, Papillion wrote, “... I will take on oversight of areas that are fundamental to the college, but have not in recent times been under the dean of the College’s direct oversight; thus the dean of admissions and financial aid, the dean of students and the athletic director will begin reporting to the dean of the college. It is the desire of the vice chancellor that the dean of the College exercise increased oversight on all affairs that affect students and faculty of the College, that all activities of the College will work more efficiently with this new structure.”

McCardell also announced several other changes in administrative titles and duties: John Swallow will add the title of executive vice president to that of provost. The human resources office will now report to the provost. Nancy Berner will become vice provost for planning and administration. Donna Pierce will become vice president and University legal counsel. Paul Wiley will become assistant provost for academic services and institutional research and registrar. John Shackelford will continue as special assistant to the vice chancellor, working on implementing the ReThink report. 

McCardell said, “These changes will enable me to devote more time in the coming years to our capital campaign, which will mean a fair amount of travel.”

Reception for Gatta on Monday

The University is hosting a reception 3:30–5 p.m., Monday, May 12, to celebrate the service of John Gatta as dean of the college. The event will be at the University Archives; remarks will begin at 4:15 p.m.

Gatta will have held this position for seven years when he concludes his service on June 30. He will then return to the faculty, following a leave of absence. Before coming to Sewanee in 2004, Gatta taught for a number of years as a professor of English at the University of Connecticut.

Sewanee Names Papillon as Dean of the College

The University of the South has appointed Terry Papillon, director of the University Honors Program at Virginia Tech, to become dean of the college effective July 1, Vice-Chancellor John M. McCardell Jr. announced today. Current dean John Gatta announced in November his decision to step down on June 30 after seven years as dean of the college.

“I am delighted by the prospect of welcoming Terry Papillon to Sewanee,” said McCardell. “Terry’s numerous strengths are a perfect match for the University of the South at this moment in our history. We have a clear strategic direction and are moving forward vigorously toward our goals. Terry’s experience and, as important, his understanding of the life-changing effect of a liberal arts education will serve Sewanee well as we embrace the challenges of the future.”

Papillon is assistant vice provost at Virginia Tech and the director of the University Honors Program, as well as professor of classics. He has a B.A. in classics from St. Olaf College, a Ph.D. in classical philology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and taught in North Carolina, Minnesota and Wisconsin before joining the faculty at Virginia Tech in the department of foreign languages and literatures.

He teaches ancient Greek, Latin, classical civilization, mythology and rhetoric, and regularly leads study abroad programs. He has received the Diggs Teaching Scholar Award (given for dedication to innovative and creative teaching), the Sporn Award for excellence in teaching introductory subjects, and—just this spring—the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising.

“Having been educated at a small liberal arts college, I know of its transformative power,” said Papillon. “St. Olaf literally changed my life, since I started as a math major, did about half of a music major, and ended up being a classicist. It transformed how I thought about who I wanted to be and where I wanted to go, and compelled me to think seriously about what I valued. I want to help other students experience that transformative power, the sort that Sewanee offers.”

Papillon became director of the University Honors Program in 2008. He has led a program that provides honors students with enhanced access to faculty mentoring and the tools needed to achieve a top-rated education. He also fostered involvement in other related opportunities, including undergraduate research, international travel, cultural opportunities, community service projects and international scholarship competitions. He introduced a First Year Excellence Seminar as a first-year experience for honors students.

Papillon’s research specialty is Greek rhetoric, particularly the Greek rhetorician Isocrates. He is the author of two books and numerous articles and book chapters. He is also editor of the online classics journal Electronic Antiquity.

Provost John Swallow chaired the search committee that advised McCardell on the appointment of the new dean. 

“Terry Papillon will bring Sewanee a remarkably complete vision of how undergraduates can learn and develop through their four years at Sewanee,” Swallow said. “The committee showed extraordinary commitment to the college’s future, and expressed great excitement about the ways in which Terry could lead the college.”