February 28, 2007

College of Science dean candidate visits campus

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill. — The last of four candidates up for the dean's position in the College of Science at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is scheduled to visit campus today (Feb. 28) through Friday.

John M. Briggs will meet with a variety of University and College of Science personnel during his three-day visit. He will discuss "Science in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities for Public Universities," at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, March 1, in room 1059 in Life Science III. The presentation time includes an open forum, during which members of the campus community and general public can meet with him.

Briggs is a professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University, where he also serves as co-director of Central Arizona Phoenix: Long-Term Ecological Research Program.

Previous science dean candidates visiting SIUC included Michael S. Jacobson, Charles J. Amlaner Jr. and Jay C. Means.

The candidates are vying for the position left vacant by Jack Parker, who retired last year. Professor James Tyrrell is serving as interim dean.