Search Continues for New Dean of the School of Environmental Sustainability

Loyola is searching for a new Dean of the School of Environmental Sustainability to replace founding Dean Nancy Tuchman, who will step down June 30.

The Office of the Provost announced Tuchman would be stepping down Aug. 8. There’s no reason stated for Tuchman’s departure, but Tuchman said she hopes the new dean will continue the legacy of her leadership for the School of Environmental Sustainability. The search committee for the new dean was announced Oct. 9.

Since her promotion to dean in 2016, Tuchman has worked toward creating Loyola’s 11th school, SES. The new dean is expected to continue the legacy of sustainable values promoted at Loyola such as continuing working with the Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and partnering with faculty and staff in other units such as the Institute for Racial Justice and the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, according to Loyola’s posted criteria for the new dean.

The Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Peter Schraeder, is the committee chair for the new dean search. The search committee consists of 14 members from the Office of Sustainability and the Office of Development as well as faculty and student representatives.

The search for the dean has been inclusive toward potential applicants, Schraeder said. Listening sessions have been conducted where students, faculty and staff can listen to the voices of each individual who’ll apply. 

The dean search committee is currently reviewing applicants, according to Assistant Professor and Solutions to Environmental Problems Coordinator Tania Schulser. 

Applicants will meet with staff, graduate students and other Loyola groups who will all assess the values of each, according to Schraeder.

“We want someone who will reflect the values of the university we are trying to build,” Schraeder said.

Schraeder said the new dean should personify the next generation of leadership for SES. The committee is looking for someone who has prior experience in leadership, whether this be a previous deanship at another university or experience as an assistant dean.

The new dean is expected to have familiarity with leading faculty research, Schraeder said.

Schraeder said the importance of having a strong relationship with the student body is valued. The new dean must partake in the journey of student success by evaluating educational programs, communicating with faculty and students and advocating for diversity and inclusion at the university, according to Schraeder.

“Since Loyola is a highly disciplinary school, we want a dean who is disciplinary,” Schraeder said. “The dean should be able to draw from all aspects of environmental issues, whether this be social sciences, politics or humanities.” 

Schrader said the committee is searching for a dean who will continue to promote Jesuit values of sustainability at Loyola. 

“Loyola focuses on Laudato Si’, an ecological standpoint from Pope Francis that emphasizes the framework of sustainability and action within our university,” Schraeder said.

The new dean is expected to have interpersonal skills, embrace shared governance, be open to group decision-making and work to make policies with other members of the university according to Schraeder.

“The dean should be good at working with external shareholders,” Schrader said. “By this, I mean working with alumni, donors, industries related to the School of Environmental Sustainability and government agencies.”

Schraeder said he hopes the new dean can work toward increased opportunity for students through resources such as graduate and Ph.D. programs.

“We have a current leader who has done an amazing job at building this school, and we hope to find a Dean who continues at that level,” Schraeder said.