2008 Woodie Awards
New dean to head Arts and Sciences
Angela Ballesta Ferrer
Issue date: 5/15/07 Section: Other News
Dominic Aquila will replace Jerry Kramer as dean of the School of Arts and Sciences on July 2. Kramer, founding dean of the school, will remain at UST as associate vice president of academic affairs.
Aquila, a married father of 11 children, hails from the University of Saint Francis in Ft. Wayne, Ind., where he was founding dean of its school of liberal arts as well as a history professor. He has also served as assistant dean, department chair and provost at several other Catholic institutions.
With his respect to his goals at UST, Aquila said that the core curriculum and First Year Experience require immediate attention. "We need to examine UST's undergraduate core curriculum and help UST first-year students persist successfully through to their baccalaureate degree," Aquila said.
He said he also wants to elevate the School of Arts and Sciences' prestige by raising expectation levels. "These projects require greater resources, and procuring them is part of my job," he said. "So, I'll be working closely with the Office of Institutional Advancement to strengthen alumni giving, writing grants and raising money for faculty development."
A search committee, composed of faculty representatives from various school departments, selected three finalists for the position. Aquila was then chosen from that candidate pool.
According to a report from the Office of Academic Affairs, the search committee sought candidates with administrative experience, leadership capability, teaching experience and affinity with UST's mission. That same report listed "broad experience in the school of life" as one of the deciding factors in hiring Aquila.
Aquila's breadth of experience included working as a classical musician and in administrative positions in the arts prior to his involvement in Catholic higher education. His resume lists, among posts at other Catholic universities, a two-year stint as provost of Ave Maria College in Michigan.
Aquila, a married father of 11 children, hails from the University of Saint Francis in Ft. Wayne, Ind., where he was founding dean of its school of liberal arts as well as a history professor. He has also served as assistant dean, department chair and provost at several other Catholic institutions.
With his respect to his goals at UST, Aquila said that the core curriculum and First Year Experience require immediate attention. "We need to examine UST's undergraduate core curriculum and help UST first-year students persist successfully through to their baccalaureate degree," Aquila said.
He said he also wants to elevate the School of Arts and Sciences' prestige by raising expectation levels. "These projects require greater resources, and procuring them is part of my job," he said. "So, I'll be working closely with the Office of Institutional Advancement to strengthen alumni giving, writing grants and raising money for faculty development."
A search committee, composed of faculty representatives from various school departments, selected three finalists for the position. Aquila was then chosen from that candidate pool.
According to a report from the Office of Academic Affairs, the search committee sought candidates with administrative experience, leadership capability, teaching experience and affinity with UST's mission. That same report listed "broad experience in the school of life" as one of the deciding factors in hiring Aquila.
Aquila's breadth of experience included working as a classical musician and in administrative positions in the arts prior to his involvement in Catholic higher education. His resume lists, among posts at other Catholic universities, a two-year stint as provost of Ave Maria College in Michigan.