Engineering names Pope associate dean

David Pope was named associate dean for the School of Engineering and Applied Science this summer, replacing John Keenan. Pope previously held this post from 1984-88, before becoming chairperson of the Mechanical Engineering Department and later the Material Science Department. The duties of the associate dean have actually been split into two jobs, Engineering Dean Gregory Farrington said. Keenan now has the title of director of advising, recruiting and admission for the school. All the advising duties will fall under his jurisdiction, Farrington said, and this will allow Pope to focus more on issues such as curriculum and policy. "Splitting the job makes it much more manageable for everyone involved," Farrington said. "This will strengthen the focus on advising as well as continuing the focus on internal curricular issues, such as curricular change development and revising undergraduate literature." Pope said he was happy about returning to the post of associate dean, as well as the changes made in the administrative structure. "Making a change, especially one such as sudden as this, is always invigorating," said Pope. "This is entirely new work than what I did at this job in the past." Pope said he plans to look into foreign exchange programs for engineering students. In the past, students have been limited by the unavailability of corresponding engineering courses in a language they understand. "There aren't many engineering students who have foreign language experience," Pope said. "We need to find a program where the exposure to other languages is everywhere except in the classroom." Both Pope and Farrington expressed enthusiasm for the revamping of the advising program. "Students have expressed their concern over the advising system.," Farrington said. "We sat down in June and decided on this new structure. I think it is working well, and we are responding better to students' needs." "When a student goes to a faculty member, they're looking for genuine communication," Pope said. "Software can answer the gritty details. It's the human interaction, the genuine dialogue that makes the learning experience. That's why people come to college."