Ripon College Days

In addition to a new Dean of Faculty, next fall Ripon should see new professors filling positions in the physics, history, biology, music and philosophy departments.

"There are a number of well-qualified candidates for all the areas," says Bill Schang, current dean of faculty.

The college first put out ads for the academic positions last year and has since received applications from around the world.

Next, the hiring committees will request additional information from qualified candidates, conduct personal interviews and then "decide what candidates to offer the position to," says Schang.

Each department is at a different stage in the selection process.

Physics

The physics department plans to hire one individual to fill a tenure-track assistant professor position. The position became available thanks to the Harrison E. Farnsworth bequest, which provides funds for the department chair as well as monies for faculty-student research and the reinstatement of the physics major. The new position will make a physics major viable since it requires at least two full time faculty.

Professor of Physics and Head of the Physics Search Committee Mary Williams-Norton says she hopes to find "a physicist with experience in and enthusiasm for teaching a wide range of courses for physics majors and others."

Since the college began advertising the position last year there has been considerable interest.

"We have a large number of applicants from around the world. Many of them have all the qualities we are seeking and are strongly interested in teaching physics to, and doing research with, undergraduate students at a college like Ripon," says Williams-Norton.

The pool of candidates has been narrowed, but there are still several in the "top tier" beyond those coming to campus.

The department is in the process of bringing candidates to campus for interviews. The final decision will be made by the dean of faculty and is expected by August at the latest, although Williams-Norton hopes to hire someone before then.

Biology

The biology department also seeks to hire a full-time tenure track position at the assistant professor level in the specialty of vertebrate zoology.

The vertebrate zoology course is currently taught by Peggy Stevens, professor of biology, whose expertise is in invertebrate development, not vertebrate zoology. "We need Dr. Stevens to teach other courses in her area of specialty," says Skip Wittler, professor of biology and head of the biology search committee.

He goes on to say, "We are looking for someone who can not only teach an introductory course in vertebrate zoology, but also at least one upper division course in vertebrate zoology such as ornithology, herpetology or ichthyology. We would also like to have a vertebrate zoologist direct student research on mammals, birds, retiles, amphibians and fish [as a part of senior studies or during the summer]."

The committee wants someone who can also help teach the popular Human Anatomy and Physiology course, possibly assisting with the lab sections.

The search process for this position is nearing completion, with the applicant pool narrowed to three candidates.

The final candidate will speak Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. in Bear Auditorium.

"We were able to attract a number of folks who have held faculty positions elsewhere," Wittler says.

Music

Ripon's music department plans to fill a tenure-track position for an assistant professor in choral music and voice.

The position became available when Assistant Professor of Music Kirin Nielsen decided to leave to pursue other opportunities, says Professor of Music and Head of the Search Committee Sarah Hughes.

Hughes goes on to say the committee is currently in the process of compiling a list of candidates to invite to campus.

While she was hesitant to say much about the search, Hughes expresses confidence that the candidates currently under consideration are good ones.

"We do have a good pool of candidates and are optimistic about getting someone with outstanding musical and teaching credentials," Hughes says.

She hopes to hire a replacement by spring break.

Philosophy

Due to Professor of Philosophy David Seligman's upcoming retirement, the department is seeking a tenure-track assistant professor for next year

All of the applications have already been reviewed. After narrowing the 55 total applicants to seven, the search committee went ahead with phone interviews.

"One of these people had already found another position, but the others are still interested," says Vance Cope-Kasten, professor of philosophy and head of the philosophy search committee.

Candidates have already begun coming to campus.

Philosophy courses to be offered next fall will depend on who the department hires, with the exception of the business ethics course, which Cope-Kasten feels there is a need for.

The new professor will also teach a history of philosophy course in the spring, one required for majors.

Cope-Kasten says the department is looking for someone who has "an interest in something new that is appropriate for our curriculum. I would like to see someone interested to connect philosophy outside of Ripon."

He also wants a candidate who will play a leadership role on campus. "They need to be enthusiastic about their work and have to care about philosophy and teaching students," Cope-Kasten says.

History

The history department has already completed their search process for a new tenure position, hiring Ripon's own Visiting Assistant Professor of History Becky Matzke.

The position became available after Professor of History Leslie Bessant, for whom Matzke was filling in, declined to return to campus after his sabbatical.

The search attracted about 55 applicants, says Professor of History Barbara McGowan, who headed the committee.

"The history department and Professor Graham read and reviewed all the applications and selected several candidates at the top," McGowan says. Matzke was decided upon as the best choice.

"Professor Matzke was the most impressive and the most qualified," McGowan says.

While at Ripon Matzke has taught popular courses in Modern Germany, Modern Europe and the Cold War to name a few.

Her current visiting position will disappear since cuts in 2001 limit the department to four professors.

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