Letter from Dr. Jerry Niles
Dear Alumni, Friends and Supporters of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences:
The College is ready to celebrate its fourth birthday on July 1, 2007. It has been my privilege to serve as its first Dean and work with the members of the College and University Community in creating a College that is committed to building an understanding and enhancement of the human condition through social transformation. Over the past four years we have melded 17 departments representing the Arts, Humanities, Social and Human Sciences, and Education (CLAHS) into a college that has a clear purpose and an essential role in helping Virginia Tech reach its ambitious goal of entering the ranks of the most prestigious research universities, nationally and internationally. To that end, the contributions of the faculty, staff, and students have been substantial as we have secured our place in the University’s future in each of the missions of the modern Land-Grant University, learning, discovery, and engagement.
At no time was the relevance of the disciplines representing CLAHS more apparent than in the days immediately following the tragedy of April 16. We relied on the Humanities to help us cope with the terrible loss of 32 students and faculty, thirteen precious and talented majors and two gifted professors who were members of our College Community. The poetry of Nikki Giovanni, for example, gave us the will and the encouragement to endure. The Human Sciences and Education community provided counseling when we needed it most. Theatre Arts provided us venues for expressing the powerful emotions that were brimming over and needed to be shared in a protected space of a studio theater. Our colleagues and students in Music provided us with music to soothe the pain and to inspire. And now as we begin to reflect on the events, the social scientists are carefully conducting inquiries to help us understand the full meaning of the tragedy.
At four years old, we are ready to look to the future as we envision an expanding research portfolio, new and innovative approaches to teaching and learning and engagement with communities in Virginia and beyond in high impact projects of mutual benefit. In that regard we will soon be welcoming new leadership to help the College realize this expanded vision. Sue Ott Rowlands will be assuming the role of Dean of the College on July 16. Dean Ott Rowlands brings extensive leadership experience in higher education, as well as unbounded energy and a commitment to the core values of the College. Her vision and passion for the programs in CLAHS will surely move the College further into the prominent light it deserves.
I want to thank all of you who have reached out to support the College over the past four years as we have forged our identity. I also want to express my sincere gratitude for all you have done for our College Community in the past two months. We have felt your support and encouragement and it has made a difference. Through your expressions of community and the support of so many, you have led us to the state that was so powerfully expressed by Professor Giovanni during the University’s Memorial Service on April 17th:
“We are better than we think and not quite what we want to be.”
These words capture the spirit of Virginia Tech and its newest college, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, perfectly.
Sincerely,
Jerry Niles
Dean
The past dean of CLAHS
Jerome A. Niles