Two key Chatham University staff members were removed from their leadership posts before the start of the academic year. University administration stated both changes were another part of Chatham’s ongoing reorganization.
Dr. Edith Barrett, former dean of what’s now the College of Arts & Sciences, and Paul Steinhaus, former Chief Information Officer, no longer hold their respective positions.
Barrett was informed in the summer that she would no longer be dean. In an email to the Communiqué, she shared her experience with the prompt change.
“I was told on June 27 that I would no longer be dean as of July 1. I can’t tell you why because I don’t know. The only reason given me was the non-reason, ‘we’re going [in] a different direction.’ I would have liked to remain the dean and help the College of Arts & Sciences’ faculty, staff and students envision a new and exciting future for the college,” Barrett wrote.
Barrett stated that she believes Chatham has an amazing faculty and is honored to be a tenured professor of political science. She is slated to return to teaching next term.
Dr. Joe MacNeil is now the dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. A professor since 1997, MacNeil was also the interim dean from January to August 2022 prior to when Barrett was hired.
Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Dr. Lisa Lambert explained the staffing change in an email to the Communiqué.
“With the reorganization of SASB [School of Arts, Science & Business] into the College of Arts & Sciences, we felt it to be important to also take a new approach to leadership, something not uncommon at universities when such a change occurs,” Dr. Lambert said in an email. “I greatly appreciate Dr. Barrett’s leadership, enthusiasm and efforts on behalf of Chatham in her role as dean of SASB, and we will welcome her in the spring as a professor in political science. Dr. MacNeil’s breadth of experience and knowledge of Chatham will help with this critical transition, and he has already initiated some positive changes.”
Before the University announced Barrett’s title change to faculty, Barrett sent an email to faculty stating that she was asked to step down.
Steinhaus was also removed from his position due to organizational changes, according to a University spokesman. Working at Chatham since January 2003, Steinhaus will not be returning to the University. Jerry DeSanto was hired to serve as interim executive director of library and information technology following Steinhaus’ exit.
Vice President of Marketing and Communications Bill Campbell said in an interview with the Communiqué that the switch happened during a time of ITS assessment.
“Different departments had some different changes, reorganizations, and this is one that is undertaken for ITS,” he said. “The University is just looking at somewhat of a different model that might be able to structure ITS and as part of that … we’re looking at a different kind of model around a director of IT, versus a CIO model.”
Campbell also stated that the assessment is moving quickly, taking place within a three-to-six month period. As the next budgeting cycle will begin in the spring, Campbell is hoping to be “able to capitalize on aspects of the assessment.”
“It’s not just one position. It’s looking at everybody and like, do we have the right positions? Is everybody empowered in the right ways we focus, the right ways that we support it? Are there risk components that the University needs to mitigate?”
At the time of publication, the Communiqué had not been able to reach Steinhaus for comment.
