A new position

On the 13th of January I take up a new position, Interim Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Connecticut. Our Provost, Peter Nicholls, asked me to serve when the person for whom I am serving suffered a serious illness. The most difficult part of agreeing to serve was reconciling myself to the awful circumstances that made my service necessary. I am very, very grateful that in spite of his serious illness, the person for whom I am serving is in good spirits, and he is his usual helpful self. He's even volunteered to chat on the phone once or twice a week about issues facing the Graduate School. Knowing that he's so willing to help is an enormous relief, even though I will bother him as little as I possibly can.

Some of you know that about 5 years ago I served as Acting Head of the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. When the dean decided it was time for a permanent head to be appointed, I was one of two candidates for the position. He selected the other candidate on the basis of the search committee's recommendation and the recommendation of my department. That decision was very painful for me.

As I've told a few close friends, I think of myself as mediocre in research. My record of external funding is pitiful compared to those I regard as leaders in evolutionary biology, and my intellectual contributions have occurred at the margins of important topics, not at the center. In contrast, I think of myself as a talented and effective leader. Others in organizations for which I've served as president (the American Genetics Association, the American Institute of Biological Sciences, and the Botanical Society of America) or in board leadership positions (the Connecticut Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, BioOne) seem to have greatly valued my service. It cut me to the quick when my closest colleagues didn't agree.

Now I have an opportunity to redeem myself and serve a broader set of colleagues at the University of Connecticut. I hope I do not disappoint them.