Other Changes

In addition, Clark said that on Thursday he will be announcing major changes in the school's personnel and organization designed to move more responsibility to the smaller units of the school

"[We want to] involve more people in the basic decisions of running the school...to help to foster creativity and stimulate this intellectually rich and vibrant community," Clark said.

These changes are partially the result of his research on product development which has taught him to "put responsibility as close to the action as possible, to give people closest real ownership."

According to the dean, the promised changes are part of a broad-based look at the way the school works. Changes, he said, will occur primarily in the planning and research areas of the school.

Another area that Clark said he has already begun new initiatives in is external communications.

"We've been working on making changes in terms of how to deal with the media," he said. "We're trying to work on how we tell our story to the world."

Other changes that are on the horizon include an attempt to be more open with the school community.

And the party the school threw last Friday for its entire community is an early example of these plans. "We a had a fabulous party for deans, faculty and staff and we had never done it before," Clark said.

First Days

Despite the flood of work which has greeted the new dean he said that he is having "a lot of fun," and his fit and energetic appearance belie that outlook. It appeared that the creases which often form across deans' brows have not yet set in.

"Day 15," Clark said as he walked into the interview. And when asked if it felt like day 100, answered, "No, only day 15."

"It's a little like drinking out of a fire-hose... There are literally eight or 10 important things to be done every day and not rest, no chunk of time to sit and reflect," he added.

Since the new dean took office at the beginning of this month, former dean McArthur spent a lot of time going over all the things he would have to deal with--many of which were a surprise.

"I said to him 'You mean you have to deal with that?' Things like buildings, grounds real estate, community relations...are all things you don't may much attention to as a faculty member," Clark said.