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David McRaney | Journalist
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Interim dean named USM President Shelby F. Thames announced Monday Denise K. von Herrmann would immediately begin serving as interim dean of the College of Arts and Letters.Von Hermann will leave her post as chair of the department of political science, international development and affairs to fill the vacancy left by the death of Elliott Pood who had served as dean since 2003. Pood died Wednesday at the age of 56 after a massive heart attack. "Dr. von Hermann is an accomplished administrator, and she will hit the ground running," said Thames. "She worked closely with Dr. Pood and will be able to take up his duties immediately." Thames added, "Our plan is to provide her with as much support as is needed. We realize this will be a significant change in the College of Arts and Letters." According to Thames, Provost Jay Grimes made the recommendation based on von Hermann's experience as assistant dean prior to taking her current position. "She is tuned to Pood's style of management," said Thames. As far as the future is concerned, Thames did not want to speculate. "I'll be leaving on May 20, and certainly her term will go on beyond that," he said. Prior to becoming chair of political science von Hermann was associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Arts and Letters from January 2004 to April 2006. She also served as interim dean of the Gulf Coast campus from May to October 2003. In a statement released Monday, Provost Jay Grimes said, "I've worked with Dr. von Herrmann on the Gulf Coast and in Hattiesburg. I look forward to working with her in this new capacity and am well acquainted with the professionalism and skill she brings to this appointment." Monday, von Hermann seemed confident despite being pulled in several directions at once. "Luckily, there won't be a whole lot of hurdles because I was associate dean alongside Pood for two years," she said from behind her political science chair's desk in the Liberal Arts Building. "I know this faculty and they know me." But for now she is still grieving over the loss of a friend. She remembers Pood as a man with an orderly mind who needed outlets for his creative side - one of which being pyrotechnic work for air shows. "Pood was this little bundle of contradictions," she said. "On one hand, he was tremendously kind and gentle, then on the other, he liked to go and blow things up for fun on the weekend." Von Hermann added, "He adored his family, but was willing to spend long hours here at USM because he knew his family supported him." "He loved photography too. When things got stressful, he could close his door for half an hour and edit a video even though it wasn't his place to do that." Von Hermann said she was well prepared to take over in Pood's absence because she believed from the time she met him he was grooming her to take over the position when he retired. Leaving that position was hard, she said. "I felt I had gone as far under his wing as I could, and I was physically tired." But, now she says she is ready to take on this responsibility. "I'm confident because a lot of great people make up the staff and chairs." The immediate future, said von Hermann, will be about transitioning roles. She said her department would need some answers about what sort of shuffling of jobs will take place before she steps down. She is scheduled to meet today with Grimes to discuss the short term, though she expects to serve as interim dean for up to a year into new president's term. In that time, she said she would focus on development and bringing in money from alumni and other programs. She added she would be talking to people about why they need to invest in arts and letter - which she feels is still an undervalued aspect of the university. According to Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Letters David R. Davies, the faculty and staff are behind the appointment. "All of us lament the circumstances, but are absolutely delighted von Hermann is coming back," said Davies. "She is a respected colleague, an effective administrator and level-headed. Her return is very welcome. Everyone I've spoken to in this department is incredibly pleased." According to Davies, people know exactly where they stand around her because she is a "straight shooter." As far as the long-term future of the dean's position is concerned, Davies and von Hermann want to wait until USM has a new administration. "We will have to let new president decide," said von Hermann. "We're all kind of interim at the moment." Originally published in The Student Printz on January 23, 2007
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