TULANE TALK

January 6, 2006

Good Morning:

As we start the new year and the long-awaited Spring 2006 semester, I want to announce a number of senior level personnel changes that have occurred as the result of the new academic structure or voluntary resignations.

Teresa Soufas, dean of the Faculty of the Liberal Arts and Sciences: Teresa has served as dean for over eight years. As dean, she made many contributions to the Arts and Sciences and the university, including introducing freshmen writing seminars, overseeing an increase in the Arts and Sciences faculty and placing a greater emphasis on fundraising and building support among external constituents. Teresa will return to the Department of Spanish and Portuguese faculty this spring. James MacLaren, professor of physics and associate provost, will serve as acting dean of the Faculty of the Liberal Arts and Sciences until the end of this academic year. Effective July 2006, the new School of Liberal Arts will be created and a dean will be selected for that position later in the spring semester.

Ian Taylor, dean of the School of Medicine: Ian served as dean for over four years and was instrumental in developing a strategic plan for the school, managing the successful Liaison Committee on Medical Education re-accreditation of the school and increasing research funding and the size of the clinical enterprise. Paul Whelton, currently senior vice president for the health sciences, has been appointed dean of the School of Medicine in addition to his current position.

John Lawson, chief information officer: John served as chief information officer for more than three years, overseeing the relocation of the Information Technology department to 1555 Poydras, the development of a new student information system and the migration to a wireless campus. Paul Barron, Professor of Law will serve as chief information officer for the foreseeable future. As you may recall, Paul has served as interim Provost in the past and was enlisted as a senior officer-at-large at the time of the hurricane. Paul has been a faculty member at the university for over two decades.

Nicholas Altiero, dean of the School of Engineering: Nick will continue as dean of the School of Engineering through the end of this academic year. Thereafter, he will become the dean of the new School of Science and Engineering. We are delighted Nick has agreed to assume this new position because of his energy and willingness to grow and develop this new school. Nick has proven himself to be a very capable academic administrator in the last six years and we have every confidence about the future of the new school under his leadership.

Cynthia Lowenthal, dean of Newcomb College, George Bernstein, dean of Tulane College, and Michael Herman, dean of the Graduate School: Cynthia, George and Michael will return to their academic departments next fiscal year as a result of new academic structure. All three have served with distinction in their respective roles and I am most appreciative of their many contributions to the university.

Finally, Yvette Jones, senior vice president of external affairs, will also assume the title of chief operating officer. Shortly after the storm I appointed Yvette chief operating officer to oversee a number of key areas of the university, which allowed me to focus on the overall university strategy for survival, recovery and renewal and to assist in the recovery of New Orleans. Yvette has been extremely effective in this role and I want to formalize it for the future. In my absence, Yvette will have overall responsibility for the entire university.

In the next few years, I plan to spend the majority of my time overseeing the successful implementation of all aspects of the Renewal Plan, especially the creation of the new academic structure and the financial recovery of the university; the completion of the $700 million fund-raising campaign by June 30, 2008; and the stabilization and continued growth of the universityís academic quality and stature. I would also like to spend time actively participating in the overall recovery of New Orleans in areas consistent with our Renewal Plan and being a spokesperson for the renewal of the university and city around the country. The realignment of the organization will allow me the flexibility to ensure these objectives are accomplished.

We have been through a great deal in the last four months, which will forever change us personally and as a university. Yet, despite our challenges, I remain steadfast in my optimism and enthusiasm for the universityís future. All of the people I have noted in this e-mail have made many contributions to Tulane University and I am deeply indebted to all of them for their service and dedication. Likewise, I look forward to working with all of you in the years ahead to continue what was started years ago, building a distinctive and highly respected world-class university.

Have a great weekend,