DuBois welcomes faculty master

Around campus "W.E.B. DuBois" might simply appear synonymous with one of the 11 college houses. But Terry Adkins, the newly appointed faculty master of DuBois College House, said that he hopes to put the ideals of the man behind the name.

Adkins said that he is personally tied to DuBois because they share their alma mater -- Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn. He has also contributed his artwork to an exhibition dedicated to DuBois.

Adkins, who will be moving into the college house, said that he "is ultra-sensitive to any institution which bears the same name of one of the greatest minds of the 20th century, so I want it to live up to the integrity and substance that something bearing his name entails."

According to Phil Nichols, the faculty director of the College House System, a faculty master is "responsible for the overall intellectual mission of the house."

As faculty master, Adkins will have the opportunity to develop the college house as an environment conducive for academic excellence.

Adkins "has a clear vision of community," Nichols said. "Which is what the college houses are supposed to be about."

A selection committee composed of students and faculty from within DuBois first singled Adkins out. The provost nodded his approval to the appointment last week.

Adkins' predecessor, Freida Hopkins Outlaw, was appointed as faculty master in August of 2002 and served for a year. Dean of DuBois Patricia Williams said that Outlaw, who left her position for personal reasons, was wonderful.

Nichols concurred.

"Freida was fantastic, she really understood community," he said. "She was out there every day being a part of DuBois."

Before coming to Penn in 1996, Adkins, a professor of fine arts, worked at several universities, including Kentucky State University and State University of New York, New Paltz.

Some of his own artwork is displayed at New York's Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Hirshhorn Museum.

Williams noted that DuBois is fortunate to have found someone who is so "nationally renowned in his field."

Adkins' experience as a visual artist will help dictate some of his visions for DuBois.

"He has a perspective that brings depth to our entire residential community," Nichols said.

He is currently working on enhancing the physical environment of the college house, which Williams conceded to be "visually dismal at times."

Adkins is also planning to revamp the gallery in DuBois, develop a forum to discuss the historical, artistic and cultural importance of black films and to launch a new Web site for the house, which will be up by tomorrow.

Williams noted that Adkins exudes approachability.

She said that Adkins will "work really close with the students" and that he's a man "students would see in almost a paternal nature." She added that he would be able to assume the trust of students while still commanding their respect.

Despite an introductory meeting Tuesday night, at which DuBois' graduate advisers and faculty fellows got acquainted with Adkins, the majority of students have not yet had the opportunity to meet their new faculty master.

College freshman Danielle Barnes said that she has heard of Adkins through friends and is aware of his desire to make some aesthetic improvements to the house.

"I'm excited to see what he'll bring and what art he'll bring and I'm excited to see him work in tandem with Ms. Trish," she said, referring affectionately to Williams.

College freshman Shakirah Simley said that she has not yet met Adkins but has heard great things about him through her supervisor, Cassandra Green, at the Institute of Contemporary Art.

Simley said that, after Green had rattled off a list of his accomplishments and qualifications, Green said that DuBois was lucky to have him.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.