New Academic VP Appointed

Gelman Named Associate VP

Filling the vacancy created by William Schwartz's resignation, Dr. Morton Lowengrub, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University, has been named Yeshiva University's vice-president for Academic Affairs, effective September 1, 1999. Accompanying Lowengrub's appointment is that of Dr. Sheldon Gelman, dean of the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, to the post of associate vice president for Academic Affairs. Gelman will continue to serve as interim academic vice president until Lowengrub's arrival on campus in the fall.

A graduate of New York University, Lowengrub holds a master's degree from the California Institute of Technology and a doctorate in mathematics from Duke University. After teaching at Duke, North Carolina State, and Wesleyan Universities, Lowengrub joined the faculty of Indiana University in 1967, and quickly rose through the academic ranks. Following stints as the director of mathematics graduate studies and chairman of the Mathematics Department, he held a series of upper-level administrative positions, including those of dean for research and graduate development and director of the Institute for Advanced Studies, and ultimately became dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 1988.

Lowengrub brings with him a distinguished list of published research in the field of applied mathematics, including five books and monographs and some two dozen scholarly articles published in various mathematical journals. He has held several prestigious fellowships, and has won awards for excellence in teaching and research. Additionally, he has the rare distinction of having an asteroid named after him by the International Astronomical Union for his contributions in the planning and design of the WIYN 3.5-meter telescope.

"Yeshiva University is a unique institution with an excellent reputation,"said Lowengrub. "Building on its solid foundation and track record of success, it has the potential to achieve even more in the years ahead. I look forward to working with Dr. Lamm, Dr. Gelman, the deans of the individual schools, faculty members, and administrators to attain this goal."

In theory, the vice-president for Academic Affairs is one of the most important and powerful figures in the YU administration. Almost every aspect of education falls under the rubric of Academic Affairs. Curriculum for the entire University, including new programs or degree tracks, and any modification involving academics or courses, are the central concerns of Academic Affairs. The hiring and firing of deans, department heads, and even graduate school deans, as well as the granting of tenure to or disciplining of faculty and administrators, all are done by the Academic VP.

One of the many monumental tasks facing Lowengrub upon his arrival in YU is shepherding the University through the upcoming Ten-Year Middle States Review in 2001. The once-a-decade accreditation process is exceedingly demanding, and involves all segments of the University including its three undergraduate and six graduate schools. Lowengrub expressed confidence in his ability to guide the school through the arduous process, noting that his prior experience with accreditations should help the school pass with "flying colors."

Lowengrub stressed that the focus of his tenure at YU will be "academic excellence. My goal is to help the students be most productive in all that they do." He stated that he hopes to use his background in the sciences and mathematics to enhance those disciplines in YU, and help to bring the beleaguered astronomy program online.

The new vice president, who will turn sixty-five next March, strenuously denied that Indiana's policy of forced retirement for administrators at that age was involved in his decision to come to YU. "That's not why I'm coming. Yeshiva is a unique place that poses interesting challenges. And although I'm sixty-four, I'm a young sixty-four. I still go running every day."

He also rebuffed any insinuation that his time spent at YU will merely be transitory. "I will be there for as long as everyone will have me." Sources within the administration have informed The Commentator that Lowengrub's recently signed contract is for three years.

Gelman, who has served as interim academic VP since the departure of former VP Bill Schwartz, has been dean of the Wurzweiler School of Social Work since 1990 and is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned his MSW. He received his doctorate from the Florence Heller Graduate School at Brandeis University. While on sabbatical in 1978, Gelman earned a Master of Law degree from Yale University, because he felt "it would aid my research and studies in the areas I was interested in."

Gelman has conducted research and published articles in topics related to social policy, liability issues in non-profit organizations, human service delivery systems, developmental disabilities, ethics, and child abuse. He is a Fellow of the American Association on Mental Retardation, and recently completed a three-year term on the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education. Gelman was also recently elected to the position of vice president of the National Association of Social Work Deans.

"I look forward to working with Dr. Lowengrub on enhancing the University's academic standing," said Gelman. "I am pleased with our efforts in this interim period, and I hope that we can complete some of the initiatives that we started."

"We are fortunate, indeed, to have found two such extraordinary individuals to serve Yeshiva University," said YU President Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm. "We now have in Academic Affairs a dynamic team with complementary strengths that will propel our University to new levels of excellence in the 21^st century. Sheldon Gelman has demonstrated his skills and dedication during his tenure as dean of Wurzweiler and during the past year as interim vice president for Academic Affairs. Mort Lowengrub comes to us with extraordinary breadth and depth of experience in higher education administration and has already demonstrated an appreciation for the history and mission of our institution."

"I want to give something back to my heritage," said Lowengrub, who grew up in a traditional Jewish household in New York. "Coming to YU gives me that opportunity."