Since being appointed interim dean of the College of Social Sciences in January, Roger White has decided not to pursue the position of full-time dean of the college.

Marc Manganaro, provost and vice president of Academic

Affairs, appointed White, Department of Political Science chairman and associate professor, to serve as interim dean until a person is selected to permanently fill the position of dean of the College of Social Sciences.

White recently announced this decision to his colleagues.

“I will not be competing to become full-time dean. I will not participate in the search or put my name in,” White said.

White said the projected time he expects to be interim dean for is between one and two years.

White said he does not have plans to make extraordinary changes to the College of Social Sciences. Rather than promoting changes during his appointment, White believes stability and open communication are important goals to maintain within the College of Social Sciences.

According to White, his personal mission is “to promote trust and transparency within the college.”

Sonya Duhé, school of mass communication director and professor, said she believes White will be “a collaborative individual who believes in faculty governance.”

Dwayne Fontenette, political science department work-study student and mass communication and political science senior, said, “Dr. White, chairman of the political science department, has been a strong department leader. He’s fair-minded, tenacious and passionate.”

According to Fontenette, White serving as interim dean has one negative aspect in that his term will be temporary.

White said he will not continue to teach while fulfilling the duties of interim dean, but he intends to return to the classroom and to the political science department after a permanent replacement is found.

“Although he won’t be in the classroom, Dr. White will continue to work with students while he’s the interim dean. He will remain the adviser to the College Democrats and Loyola Society for Civic Engagement,” Fontenette said.

Lucy Dieckhaus can be reached at [email protected]