Wells appointed VP, dean of college

On Feb. 2, Maryville College president Dr. Tom Bogart announced the appointment of Dr. Barbara Wells as MC’s new vice president and dean of the college.

Wells has served as interim vice president and dean since June 1, 2011.

For the last eight months, Dr. Dan Klingensmith, professor of history and chair of the VP and Dean of the College Search Committee, worked with multiple campus leaders to provide Bogart with four national candidates for the position.

“I named the search committee in collaboration with Dr. Klingensmith and talked with other leaders on campus to put together a good group,” Bogart said. “Their job was to identify a set of strong candidates for me to choose from. We ended up with four candidates who were very strong.”

After working closely with Wells during her interim service, Bogart is confident in his appointment decision.

“I think anyone would take a look at the dean position and know that we are in good hands,” Bogart said. “I am eager to continue working with her.”

Vice president and dean of students Vandy Kemp has also expressed her approval of the appointment of Wells.

“When Dr. Bogart appointed her as the interim dean last may, I was very excited,” Kemp said. “I have worked with Barbara for a long time and find her and continue to find her to be very bright, complex in her understanding of the college, and also to have a very calming influence… she collects data, she thoughtfully considers it and makes a decision. It’s a real joy to work with her.”

Kemp believes that Wells will be unanimously welcomed in her new position throughout campus, as she has made a widespread, positive impact since joining the college in 1998.

“The value of what [Wells] brings … is stability,” Kemp said. “People know her, the faculty respect her very much, and I think she will [in her new position] establish a good working relationship with the faculty. She has done a lot, and that makes her an excellent role model for both faculty and students alike.”