The Cavalier daily :: Tuesday, September 16, 1969 :: University of Virginia Library

A sizable list of new faculty appointments
this semester is headed by that of David A.
Shannon as Dean of the Faculty and Professor
of History. A former chairman of the history
department at Rutgers University, Mr. Shannon
assumed his new duties as of July 1.

Mr. Shannon succeeds Fredson T. Bowers,
Linden Kent Professor of English, who will
continue on the faculty. The Dean of the
Faculty is the chief advisor to the Provost and
the President of the University on courses of
study in graduate and undergraduate Arts and
Sciences. He also recommends additions to the
faculty.

The appointment was made official at the
June meeting of the Board of Visitors.

Praise From Shannon

University President Edgar F. Shannon, Jr.
said, "We are most fortunate that Mr. Shannon
is joining the University as professor of history
and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
He has had broad experience as a teacher and
departmental chairman at major universities in
the United States; and as a distinguished scholar
in modern American history, his stature has
been recognized with visiting professorships at
universities in this country and abroad."

President Shannon continued, "I am confident
that he will give strong leadership to
furthering the excellence of the faculty of Arts
and Sciences."

Before going to Rutgers in 1968, Mr.
Shannon had been for three years professor and
chairman of the history department at the
University of Maryland. He has also taught at
Carnegie Institute of Technology and the
University of Wisconsin.

Dean Shannon has also been visiting
professor at the University of California at
Berkeley, the University of Stockholm and the
University of Aix-Marseille in France.

He has authored books on modern American
history including "The Socialist Party in
America: A History," "The Decline of American
Communism," "Twentieth Century America,"
and "Between the Wars."

Mr. Shannon is a native of Terre Haute,
Indiana and holds a bachelor's degree from
Indiana State College and doctoral degrees from
the University of Wisconsin.

Bice Appointed

Also announced during the summer was the
appointment of Raymond C. Bice as Administrative
Assistant to the President. Mr. Bice,
former Association Dean of the Kent-Dabney
Association, has also been elected Secretary of
the Rector and Visitors of the University.

Mr. Bice succeeds as Secretary of the Rector
and Visitors Weldon Cooper, who will continue
with the Institute of Government and the
Department of Government and Foreign
Affairs. As Administrative Assistant to President
Shannon, Mr. Bice will carry out a variety
of administrative tasks.

Mr. Bice, a native of La Crosse, Wisconsin, is
an associate professor of Psychology. He
received Ph.B. and Ph.D. degrees from the
University of Wisconsin. He has served as Dean
of Admissions for the College. He specializes in
the design of instrumentation for research in
psychophysics and sensory psychology.

Ellwood Named

In another appointment announced last
week by President Shannon's office, William
Ellwood, assistant professor of English, will
serve as Assistant to the President for Special
Programs, effective October 1, 1969.

In a letter of appointment to Mr. Ellwood,
President Shannon said, "In this position you
will be the President's personal deputy and
coordinator for programs to further equality of
educational opportunity at the University of
Virginia for all young men and women in the
State."

Mr. Ellwood will continue as Director of the
Undergraduate Work-Study Preparatory Program,
"following the progress of this year's
participants, acting in liaison with the academic
deans in the establishment of tutoring resources
as may be pertinent, for these and other
students, and participating in the operation and
planning of next year's program."

Equal Opportunity

Mr. Ellwood will also continue his work
with he Upward Bound Program. As the
President's deputy, he will act to coordinate
and report on non-discrimination and equal-opportunity
among employees and faculty as
well as students.

Additionally, Mr. Ellwood will work with
the Associate Provost for the funding of "any
additional programs as may be warranted to
broaden opportunities for minority group and
disadvantaged students."

President Shannon's letter concluded, "I am
confident that you can increase your contribution
to the welfare of the University through
assisting me in this position, and I am grateful
that you have signified your willingness to
undertake it."

In a letter of reply, Mr. Ellwood said, "I
accept the appointment with pleasure and look
forward to making whatever contributions to
the University community I can."

In other academic news, it has been
announced that students wishing to specialize
in South Asian studies will find a new
coordinating agency at the University this fall.

Under the direction of John T. Roberts,
assistant professor of Hindi and Sanskrit, a
newly formed South Asia Center will coordinate
the South Asian-related courses in
government and foreign affairs, sociology and
anthropology, history, romance languages and
general linguistics, religious studies, education,
economics, and architecture.

With a faculty of 13 experts in these fields,
the University's South Asia program becomes
one of the more substantial in the country.

The center will not grant degrees since a
majority of departments offering related
courses allow concentration in South Asian
Studies for graduate degrees. In addition, the
College offers an interdepartmental major in
Asian Studies for undergraduates.

As well as coordinating course offerings, the
center will sponsor monthly interdisciplinary
seminars where students can discuss research
methods. It will also sponsor lectures and
cultural events.

Students specializing in South Asia have
access to the Alderman Library's collection of
South Asia materials purchased by the Library
of Congress. The library has an estimated
40,000 volumes in the languages of India.
Pakistan and Ceylon.