April
9,
2004
Lucas
Wilson Appointed Director of Academic Development
Photo: Todd M. LeMieux
Lucas Wilson, associate professor of economics
and African and African American studies chair |
President Joanne V. Creighton
has announced the appointment of Lucas Wilson, associate professor
of economics and African and African American studies chair,
to the new position of director of academic development. In this
five-year, halftime position, Wilson will report to Creighton
and Dean of Faculty Donal O’Shea and also expects to work
closely with Dean of the College Lee Bowie. He also has joined
the Presidential Commission on Diverse Community.
Wilson described his main task as working “to improve the overall climate
of academic achievement for all students at the College.” He hopes to work
with faculty across the curriculum, expanding on many of the successes in student
mentoring. “Some of the successes are institutional, and need to be broadened,” he
said, “while some are pedagogical, and need to be sharpened.” Wilson
said that his decision to accept this new role was influenced by factors that
lead to high academic achievement at predominantly African American schools such
as his alma mater, Morehouse College in Atlanta—factors that include “mentoring,
making casual opportunities for students to connect with faculty, and providing
a variety of [African American] role models ‘doing lots of different things.’” He
emphasized, however, that he does not intend to create a “minority” program. “There’s
a preconception that underperformance is a minority problem. It’s not,” Wilson
said. “The point is to get all underperforming students to perform at a
higher level. Excellence is a challenge for all of us to meet. To the extent
that this work captures ALANA students, that’s good. If it reaches others,
that’s good, too.”
Wilson has ambitious plans for the next several months. Here at the College,
he will talk to students and faculty and assess the needs and situations of each
department/program. “We need to begin to evaluate where we are, and where
we’re going,” Wilson said, “and to determine measurable outcomes
we can use to gauge progress.” He will also convene faculty and student
discussion groups that will read and discuss a variety of materials and the difficult
issues they raise.
Beyond the campus, Wilson will attend meetings sponsored by COFHE (the Consortium
on Financing Higher Education), CHAS (the Consortium for High Achievement and
Success), and other organizations of prestigious liberal arts colleges and universities,
to discuss ways to address academic development challenges. He also will visit
the University of Maryland Baltimore County, where an innovative mentoring program
has created a climate of measurable academic success for all students.
In her announcement, Creighton expressed gratitude to Wilson for his “creative
engagement and commitment.” Wilson looks forward to working with faculty,
students, and staff on this important new presidential initiative. “If,
at the end of five years, we have a better understanding of, and series of institutional
practices for, high achievement among a diverse student body, then this program
will be off to a good start.”
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