Dean Search Committee Welcomes Input
UNC-Chapel Hill School of Dentistry Dean John N. Williams has announced that he will be stepping down from his position in June 2010, and a search process is well under way for his successor.
Dr. Barbara K. Rimer, dean of the UNC-Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, is chairing a search committee made up of School of Dentistry and other health affairs school faculty, as well as School of Dentistry staff, students and alumni and state leaders in dentistry. The University has hired the firm Spencer Stuart to assist the search committee in identifying potential candidates.
The committee welcomes individual feedback on characteristics and background to be considered in identifying potential candidates. Those interested in providing feedback on the process may complete this survey. The committee also welcomes nominations of candidates for the position of dean; these should be sent to UNCdentaldean@spencerstuart.com.
The deadline for submitting survey comments is Jan. 8, 2010.
“We have a superb committee,” Rimer said in a recent update to the School of Dentistry community, adding that several members are practitioners in the state. “I have really been impressed by the give and take within the committee and the willingness of everyone to contribute actively to the goal of finding the best candidates.”
Rimer said the committee was fortunate that the University provided resources to hire Spencer Stuart. The committee, through Spencer Stuart’s involvement, has reached out to many people schoolwide, as well as alumni and others.
Currently, the committee is identifying potential candidates. The tentative timeline is for initial interviews with potential candidates to take place in February 2010. Then, the committee will identify a smaller group of candidates who will be invited to campus for “intensive interviews with key constituencies,” Rimer said.
“The [School of Dentistry] is among the best in the country, and we have a strong practitioner community across this state,” Rimer said. “I am confident that we will find outstanding candidates. We value your input and your support.”
