With varying degrees of purpose, each became a target because what we make inevitably acquires meanings, some of which we intend and control, others of which we do not. We live in this interval between experience and significance, between ourselves and others, and it is here that we create our moments of joy and outpourings of grief. On Nov. 3, 2001, the faculty, staff and students of the College of Fine Arts came together in an evening of performance, Raising Our Voices: UNM Artists Unite in Rememberance, which at once commemorated those who died and reminded ud of the vital role played by all the arts in giving expression alike to the tragedies and the successes of our common humanity. Sept. 11, 2001, also came early in my term as interim dean of our college, and it inaugurated what turned out to be a year of often-unexpected challenges. A month later, in mid October, I discovered that the College faced a looming fiscal crisis that could only be corrected through substantive operational and budgetary reform. At the same time, I had to deal with the loss of several senior administrative staff. after years of relative stability, the College was going through a period of sudden, dramatic change. I realized that my job as interim dean would be to see the College through a necessary period or transition, building on the accomplishments of the past while preparing for the future by rethinking outmoded practices, policies and procedures.
A year later, the College has been re-established on a sound operational and budgetary foundation, has hired a responsible academic administrator and an accomplished development officer to manage its budget and fund raising, and has completed its search for the next permanent dean, Dr. James Moy. I am now working actively with Dean Moy to coordinate this final stage of transition, so that he can fully and immediately assume control of the College upon his arrival in January.
The departments have begun a process of internal review and curriculum revision that is the necessary first step to articulating a college wide strategic plan that matches our priorities with those of the University. In tandem with this planning process, an ambitious development project is being explored to support our college with the funding needed for professorships, scholarships and programmatic initiatives. Old habits of territoriality are yielding to a spirit of interdisciplinary cooperation as we consider our common interests both within the College and between the College and the rest of the University. Not only are we learning how to make better use of our resources, but we are also experimenting with more flexible models, technologies, methods and materials for teaching and research as we prepare students across the arts for the 21st century.
I am honored to have served the College as its interim dean in 2001-2002. the 18 months of my tenure have taught me to respect the dedication and experience, the creativity and the productivity of our passionate faculty, staff and students, in every department and every program. As I return to full-time teaching and an unfinished book, I step down with the confidence that the college is being left in good shape and in excellent hands.
Christopher Mead, Interim Dean
ccmead@unm.edu
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