P.I.O.With the international festival getting a lot of attention this week, diversity was once again placed at the forefront at UT.
The internationalization of UT isn’t just occurring in the courtyard. The hiring of two new deans will help the campus to think more globally, according to officials.
UT was recently bashed for not being very diverse; however, with the hiring of the two new deans, the school hopes to reaffirm its commitment to diversity.
The school recently hired Dr. Jin Wang to fill the position of dean of academic services position and Dr. Frank Ghannadian as the dean of the John H. Sykes College of Business.
Wang will join the UT community with a very distinguished background full of knowledge and experience from all over the world.
After graduating with a B.A. in Economics in China, Wang traveled to the U.S. to get his masters in economics at Ohio State and later his Ph.D. from Kansas State University.
Wang is currently a professor of economics and an associate dean at Rowan University in New Jersey.
Wang said that more than anything he will be bringing expertise to the table.
“With everywhere I’ve been and what I’ve seen over the years of my studies, I plan on giving back to the students,” he said.
Wang took the job because he saw a great opportunity at UT. “I felt it was time for me to give something back to the students. My entire career I’ve benefited in so many different ways. With this new job, I can deal directly with the students and teach them some of the things that I have experienced in America and overseas.”
“My goal is to develop international students in every way but also focus on the rest of the students to help them get ready for the real world which is also very diverse,” Wang added. “It’s very important to be able to deal with people of all races because many businesses are hiring people of all nationalities.”
Ghannadian, a native of Azerbaijan, also hopes to focus on preparing students for the international work force.
Ghannadian speaks four languages and has extensive knowledge of the market economy. He has researched many subjects, ranging from policy and political limitations in the European Union to international diversification in investing.
Ghannadian, a firm believer in faculty governance, is hoping to make the Sykes College of Business the premier business school in the Southeast. To help achieve this, he wants to add more international programs, such as study abroad programs, for undergraduates.
“When you think about business, you have to think international,” he said. “This world is so connected, and I want all business majors to understand the global environment we live in. There are lots of exciting jobs internationally and so much to learn.”
Chairman of the committee for finding a dean of academic services Dr. Scott Paine said recently that he is “very happy” with the decision to make Dr. Jin Wang the new dean of academic services for fall 2007.
Paine said that though the process was a long one, the seven member committee unanimously agreed that Wang was the best man for the job.
“He has an extensive experience in working across international boundaries,” Paine said. “He also a diplomatic collaborative approach to problems. He’s a man with a can-do attitude.”
While Paine admitted that there that Wang’s new position will not be targeted directly on international students, he said that Wang’s extensive experience should be enough to assist international students.
“Because he is the dean of academic services, his portfolio really doesn’t fall under international students except to give a new perspective, if international students need it,” Paine said. “However, because of his personal portfolio, I would expect him to take special interest in assisting international students.”
According to Paine, the position is a new and much-needed. He explained this position was created was because of expansions UT has undergone over the years.
“We have done a lot of things with the university that is relatively new,” he said. ” As a result we have been doing a lot of house cleaning.”
By “house cleaning” Paine explained that UT will be creating new positions. However, he added that the University will eliminate some positions.
“No one really knows what the new positions will be,” he admitted. “But we do know that because of the new colleges that will be coming on stream in the fall, we will not have any more associate deans [within the colleges].”
Paine also said that the new position helps UT keeps its promise of providing an internationally diverse campus.
“UT adopted a quality enhancement program in which internationalization was the main focus,” Paine said. “In this era there is every reason for us to engage international students. That’s the nature of the world, and we want to broaden our international horizons.”
Paine also admitted that the search for a new dean of academic services was not easy .
“The 40 applications were both external and internal candidates. After reviewing all the applicants, we short-listed it to about seven candidates and then finally three candidates,” Paine added.
Dr. Paine added that after the decision was made to hire Dr. Wang, no faculty member had expressed disappointment.
“I personally have not gotten any negative feedback,” he said.
Some international students hope that they will receive more financial opportunities at UT.
“I hope he will be able to create more financial aid for international students,” said UT junior Cheree Longley.
Another student, Michael Corvella, had the same sentiments.
“I think UT is pretty diversified, but I think we need to provide more financial opportunities for international students,” he said.
Though it is highly unlikely that Wang will be able to assist in financial matters, Paine maintains that Wang will be beneficial to the University.
“In terms of internationalization, he is one more person who can help us to keep that focus so that in the next eight years, when people ask us what we did to diversify our campus, we will be able to confidently tell them.”