The University’s College of Art and Design has two associate deans for the first time since 2009, following the promotion of Associate Professor of landscape architecture Lake Douglas.
Douglas will be the associate dean of research and development and Associate Dean of Academic Services Tom Sofranko will remain in his current position.
The position of associate dean of research and development was last filled in 2009, but has remained vacant since Stuart Baron stepped down from the role four years ago.
Dean of the College of Art and Design Alkis Tsolakis said he reopened the position because said he believes it can bring interesting and beneficial research initiatives to the college.
Sofranko said his position focuses more on students and curriculum and Douglas’ position will focus more on finding and funding new research, something he couldn’t really take on as the only associate dean.
Douglas, who already began his new duties, said he hopes to make the faculty and student research more visible within the university and externally with his new position.
He said the college addresses real-life issues such as coastal erosion and sustainability and it is import to spread the word on these beneficial research projects.
“A lot of what we do in the studio has direct application to the outside world,” Douglas said.
Another focus of the position is finding funds for the college’s research projects, Tsolakis said, and Douglas was chosen because he is someone who understands the college and grant writing.
“We have to look to external sources of funding,” Douglas said. “They’re out there and we just have to know where they are and go after them.”
Tsolakis said the college focuses on interdisciplinary, applied and creative research and Douglas is someone who has first-hand experience in research and publishing.
He said Douglas is a graduate of the University who has a great understanding of Louisiana and loyalty to the University, something greatly beneficial to the college.
While Douglas will still be a professor, he will step down from his position as
undergraduate coordinator.
“That’s the one thing I think I will miss, dealing with students on a regular basis,” he said.
He said he is most looking forward to establishing contacts outside of the university to show the outside world the benefits of the college’s research.
“Often we get so focused on what we do inside the University, we forget it has outside application,” Douglas said.
“Often we get so focused on what we do inside the University, we forget it has outside application.”