Former Acting Dean of the college of Arts and Sciences Clayton Koppes accepted the position of Dean of the College on Thursday. Koppes was the unanimous choice of the dean search committee.
"I'm very excited, thrilled really," Koppes said. "Oberlin is such a wonderful place with such wonderful possibilities. We are really at a phase where we can realize those possibilities."
President Nancy Dye approved the recommendation, and will announce his appointment this afternoon. The selection ends a 9-month national search.
"I'm just so pleased," Dye said. "I'm so glad. I'm delighted."
The dean search committee convened on Sunday to formulate their final recommendation. Koppes was chosen over candidates Dean of Faculty at Whittier College Robert Marks and Professor of Geology at the University of North Carolina Geoffrey Feiss.
"On a lot of issues, the finalists were saying the same things," said professor of History Marcia Colish, chair of the search committee. According to Colish, the committee considered the candidates' support of the College's planning processes, their commitment to faculty governance and interest in the historic values of Oberlin.
Colish said the committee was enthusiastic about all three finalists. "We feel enthusiastic about Koppes," she said.
"I think he will be a great dean," said committee member associate professor of French Nelson de Jesus. "He's sensitive to a lot of issues we have confronting us."
Koppes said that while he doesn't have specific, detailed goals yet, he does have general ones. "I do want to build on the institution President Dye has established," he said.
Koppes said he was especially concerned about the diversity of faculty and curriculum. He also mention the planned capital campaign and the proposed Science Center as projects he is particularly interested in.
"I want to work to encourage innovation in teaching and the curriculum," Koppes said. He said that he has sensed a real enthusiasm among faculty for new pedagogical techniques.
Koppes said he was also interested in the relationship between the college and the Conservatory.
Prior to his appointment as acting dean, Koppes taught history.
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