Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Bad News for Us: Zimmerman leaving

Michael just posted the news to the employee's list. He is taking a job at Butler University.

The announcement says that he is taking essentially the same job there: Dean of the College of Letters and Sciences. Also, after a quick google, it is clear that Butler is not a step up for him, but more of a lateral move. He will be at a smaller school with fewer faculty, but it is private.

One would have to guess that the trials and tribulations of working in the UW system has finally overwhelmed him. At Butler, he will be free of cost-cutting legislators and an administration that doesn't believe that he should be involved in politics.

We knew he was looking to leave, but it is always a shock when it finally happens.

Many have had issues with Michael over the years, but he has been a strong advocate and a good steward of our resources through difficult times. We can only hope that our next Dean will be able to continue his strong legacy.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

MAYBE IT IS FOR THE DIVISION 1 BASKETBALL. THE SEASON JUST FINALLY GOT TO HIM...

Anonymous said...

Not enough faculty members realize what a good dean Michael has been at UWO. I've always admired his intellect and willingness to listen to an argument. He protected the values we hold dearly here. It might be a step down career-wise, but he obviously needs a break from what is going on in Wisconsin. Best wishes, Michael.

Anonymous said...

You don't seem very religious, but sommeone better pray for Butler.

Anonymous said...

I don't think you know what you're talking about. Michael is the only academic UWO has left! He was a tremendous asset to the school and always tried to keep us on an academic path, not just an athletic conquest like the chancellor would like. He will be sorely, sorely missed.

Lake Winneblogo said...

I have not yet talked to anyone who doesn't think that this is a very bad thing for COLS.

Of course, I haven't talked to anyone in the Econ department.

I imagine our negative commenter is not a university person, who doesn't like his public activities.

I also want to add that I wish him the best of luck at his new institution--they are lucky to have him!

Anonymous said...

Agreed. I think that makes sense. It's a shame people don't see what the man has done for us.

Anonymous said...

I heard that his wife got a nice position as chair of the art department there.

For someone so opposed to helping out academic couples here, he worked the system pretty well for himself at Butler

Anonymous said...

The two searches were independant of eachother. They have different last names and the search groups at Butler were not told of the relationship until they had made their reccomendations for hire.

Ultimately, it turned out that they were the two best candidates in seperate, completely independent national searches. If you looked at their files, I'm sure you could see why. The MUSIC department isn't even in the same college as his new position.

She's chair of the MUSIC department, so not only do you just like to bash people, but you're purely dumb while doing it.

I hope to god that you are not affiliated with any type of university or reputable institution because your lack of intellect and lack of willingness to do any research before making an ass of yourself astounds me and, quite honestly, makes me feel sorry for those close to you.

Good day.

Lake Winneblogo said...

Someone took offense at an interesting piece of anonymous information here. The offended person really had some good, inside information! The poster knows how the Bradley search worked AND what the files of the two candidates looked like. I wish I had access to that kind of stuff!

So Zimmerman's wife got a job at Bradley too. I think I side with the purveyer of that information. Does the anonymous , offended poster really think that Bradley people didn't know about his personal life.

It makes good sense to make sure that both members of a couple have a job. You are not going to get people to move nearly as easily if you don't deal with spousal issues.

There are many, many couples in academia that are forced to split for jobs. If Zimmerman made it work out for himself, we should be happy, but shouldn't pretend that this was just a fortuitous coincidence.

Anonymous said...

Bradley?

Lake Winneblogo said...

typo. Bradley, Butler. . . just another private midwestern university.

Anonymous said...

Bulter is a typo, Bradely is lack of knowledge.