Peter White, a UNM professor and interim dean of University College since August 2000, was selected earlier this month to permanently fill the position.
"Peter brings a strong commitment, considerable experience and a breadth of knowledge to the position," Foster said in a UNM statement. "He also brings a University perspective; for example, he worked in the Provost's Office and he managed the North Central Association Accreditation self-study for the University. Even before becoming interim dean, he was involved in issues that are central to the University College mission, including, especially, student retention and the freshman experience."
White said he looks forward to working with the provost and the other deans to help ensure first and second year students have positive, productive University experience.
"University College will continue to develop first-year programs, like the Freshman Learning Communities, the Living and Learning Communities and the Freshman Interest Groups, working cooperatively with the faculty in other colleges, the Division of Student Affairs and all the advisors on campus to help our students make the transition to the research university and succeed in college," he said.
He added that the college also is working with the Extended University, faculty on campus and branch campus directors to enable students, whether at the Albuquerque campus or at the branches, to obtain an academically sound, multidisciplinary bachelor's degree in University Studies.
"University College has two main missions: to provide a supportive and academically enriching experience for first and second year-students and to provide direction and guidance for the five interdisciplinary programs in the College - Honors, Native American Studies, Chicano Studies, the Bachelor of University Studies and the master's in Water Resources," he said.
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White earned his bachelor's degree in English from St. Bonaventure University, N.Y., in 1969, his master's in English from Bowling Green State University in 1972 and his doctorate in English and American Religious History from Pennsylvania State University in 1976.
White joined the UNM faculty as an assistant professor in 1977. He has been interim associate provost and dean of Undergraduate Studies from 1999 to 2000, executive affairs officer and assistant to the president from 1998 to 1999, and special assistant to the provost for the North Central Association Accreditation from 1997 to 1998. He also has been associated dean for Student Academic Affairs from 1995 to 1997 and an English and American Studies professor from 1989 to present.
In 1980, he was a Fulbright Fellow to the University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland, and from 1985-86, he was a as a Visiting Associate Professor at Pennsylvania State University. In 1993, he participated in UNM's Summer Abroad Program at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
He is the author, co-author and co-editor of five books, including "The Lore of New Mexico," "Along the Rio Grande" and "Puritan Poets and Poetics: Seventeenth-Century American Poetry in Theory and Practice." He also is the author or editor of numerous other publications and articles, and the recipient of several research grants.
He is the 1989 recipient of the Ralph Emerson Twitchell Award from the New Mexico Historical Society and, at UNM was the recipient of a $5,000 Presidential Professor award.
White, who in his spare time makes concert violins, violas and other stringed instruments, is a square dance fiddler with the Virginia Creepers.
Staff Report
