By
Emily Severson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Selection of new head begins today
The UA journalism department is looking for a new leader after the resignation of the current head, Jim Patten, who assumes the role of undergraduate advisor.
Patten has worked as head of the journalism department since 1991, but went on sabbatical last semester. When he returned this month, he met with Holly Smith, the dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and they mutually decided that he should work as the undergraduate advisor instead of the head, Patten said.
"We met and concluded together that maybe nine years was enough," Patten said. "It was not entirely a walk in the park."
Patten said one of the most difficult things he dealt with as the head was the re-accreditation process that the journalism department goes through every six years. The UA journalism department is one of 105 universities that are accredited in the nation, Patten said.
However, Patten said he was enjoying his new position so far.
"It has been an enormously good time so far because I've been seeing students all day," Patten said.
Patten has had experience working as an advisor in the past. He worked as the University of Nebraska Journalism Chief Advisor for 13 years.
William Greer, the undergraduate advisor for the past three years, will be teaching an extra editing class this semester and producing the Alumni Cursor, the UA journalism department's bi-annual newsletter to its alumni. He said he was not interested in the position of department head.
The acting head of the department is Jacqueline Sharkey, who has shown an interest in being the permanent head.
The department will have an internal search this semester. Any tenured professor can apply. The committee will be made up of the full-time journalism department faculty and a head of another UA department, Smith said.
"If the department wants to, they can appoint a student to the committee, as well," Smith said.
Once the committee picks a candidate, members make a recommendation to Smith, who interviews him or her and can then give final approval.
