Alyssa Wilson ~ Editor-in-Chief
The position for the Dean of the Lynchburg College of Arts and Sciences has been vacant for nearly three years, requiring big shoes to fill as the University of Lynchburg’s largest college.
Dr. Sabita Manian, the current associate dean of social sciences, has recently been chosen to lead the college’s 750 majors and faculty.
As the University grapples with its recently announced deficit, the institution has to implement consolidation efforts and changes across all departments, including among its leadership.
Manian said she was motivated to apply for the position due to the general idea that faculty members and administrators often see themselves in two different camps or having an “us versus them” approach when entering into a relationship with one another. As dean, she wants to combat this idea.
“When I start the position of Dean, my hope is to truly serve as the bridge between those two groups. Instead of an us versus them approach I want to move to us and them approach, because even though we are two different groups we are all here for the common good of the students,” Manian says.
Manian is a strong believer in the idea of “shared governance”.
According to Manian, shared governance allows for faculty and administrative leaders to share, fulfill and execute a vision for the betterment of their students, which begins to alleviate the us versus them approach and bring the faculty and administration closer together.
The deficit has forced the University to make changes on campus as it reimagines the strategic plan, one of these steps include the realigning of departments across the campus community, including LCAS.
As part of the realignment process, professors will begin a 4:4 teaching schedule, for some faculty this change mean a heavier workload as they balance their teaching responsibilities with research and service requirements.
The new teaching schedule was approved by Provost Jablonski and university leadership as a measure to try and ensure the long term sustainability and health of the University. Manian believes in these collaborative efforts and trusts that the leadership is doing what is best for the University.
Manian says, “If we can collaborate and trust one another, there is no way we can be pulled apart, and that is truly the best way to serve our students.”
Although Manian has high hopes for this new teaching schedule, there is no telling how it will impact faculty and students until it is carried out in the fall of 2023.
The new “vision is student-centered” and Manian believes that this change will not negatively impact the student experience.
She also oversees three portfolios that are unique to the LCAS Dean’s position: The Center for Global Education, the DELL curriculum and General Studies curriculum.
The search committee for this position was made up of administrators and faculty members from across the campus community. Since she was chosen by her peers to lead LCAS, Manian feels confident she has the support of her colleagues as they work collaboratively toward ensuring sustainability and student success.
Dr. Oeida Hatcher, associate dean for the School of Visual and Performing Arts was a part of the search committee that chose Manian for this role said “I am quite confident that Dr. Manian will be quite successful in this new administrative position.”
Manian’s official vision for LCAS is to provide the best learning environment to the maximum number of students, to promote an academic community for faculty and staff, and to lead intellectually and emotionally healthy lives in the interest of students.
“As Dean, my hope is that none of us, whether it is students and their relationships with faculty or vice versa, that we don’t lose sight of our well-being and health,” says Manian.
Dean Manian will also continue her role as Associate Dean for the School of Social Science for the remainder of the spring 23 semester.
To learn more about Dean Manian visit: https://www.lynchburg.edu/academics/faculty/sabita-manian/
