In the search of a permanent dean to assume the position of dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. James Simon has been appointed the position for a one-year term.

After Dr. Robbin Crabtree, former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, left the position in the Spring of 2014, the search for a new dean was set forth. Fr. Paul Fitzgerald, S.J., the former Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs spearheaded the search for an interim dean to hold the position until a permanent dean is found, a search that would be conducted by Fitzgerald’s successor as he too has left his position at Fairfield University after being named President of the University of San Francisco.

Simon has served as a professor at Fairfield University since 2006 and was chair of the English department from 2007 to 2013. In 2012, Simon was appointed associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Starting on June 1 Simon will act as dean during a nationwide search for a permanent dean.

“I think Robbin Crabtree is a hard act to follow,” said Simon. “I think I could build on Robbin’s success and perhaps bring in a few new ideas as well.”

In 1997, Simon was appointed to direct the journalism program and also served as the faculty advisor for the student newspaper, The Mirror. During his time as faculty advisor, writers of The Mirror won 23 collegiate journalism awards in total.

“Dr. Simon demonstrates proactive leadership, strong organizational skills and the ability to resolve difficult challenges through collaboration and alliance building,” said Dr. Lynn Babington, senior vice president of academic affairs. “He will bring these characteristics to his new role as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.”

Simon also created the Classroom to Career program, a system that provides students with step-by-step insight on how to accomplish their career goals based on their major and the classes they are taking. The Classroom to Career model has since gained attention at universities across the world who are adopting similar models for students.

“When I have to make a decision, [I] first ask, ‘what is in the best interest for the students?’” said Simon. “I imagine I will be taking that approach with this new job as well.”

Simon also currently serves as the vice chair of the Fairfield’s Task Force on Outcomes as a part of Fairfield’s 2020 plan, a position designed to co-lead a group assigned to research strategies that would better prepare students for their careers.

Former student of Simon and current FUSA President, Alex Cucchi ’15, supports the decision of Simon being appointed interim dean.

“I have personally witnessed how much he cares about the success and development of each of his students,” said Cucchi. “I am certain he will do an outstanding job and I plan on working with Dr. Simon to achieve some FUSA initiatives as well.”

While the possibility of Simon being promoted to permanent dean remains to be seen, the history with interim deans shows that the chances are slim. Since May 1999 there have been two interim deans, Beverly Kahn and Raymond Poincelot, neither of which have moved to the permanent dean position. Though, there seems to be a pattern with interim deans, being that the last two people to be appointed interim dean were associate deans in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Albeit, Simon claimed that “it’s likely that when the national search begins, I will be a candidate for the position.”

Still, Simon has big shoes to fill as dean. During his interim dean term, Poincelot “hired 12 faculty, created an endowed Science Institute, and oversaw the College Board’s focus on new directions, global diversity and the environment,” according to Poincelot’s faculty profile on Fairfield.edu.

Simon said that one of his initiatives is to create a stronger tie between the nursing program and the liberal arts program at Fairfield.

Simon hopes that arts and science students will be able to take nursing courses, and vice versa. Simon will also be proposing a minor in Health Sciences, which would be available to all students.

Fairfield is also in the financial stages of building a four story building that will be connected to the current nursing school, on the parking lot behind the RecPlex in place of where there are currently trailers, according to Simon.

“I think this is going to be a huge step forward,” said Simon. “It’s something I’m going to be working on [it] all year to keep pushing it along.”

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