A week ago, Beverly Wendland was named dean of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. The Editorial Board would like to formally express its support for the decision to name Wendland the dean, as we believe she is well-suited to tackle the challenges ahead and to blaze a new course for the school, fostering an atmosphere of interdisciplinary learning and inclusiveness necessary to achieve her stated goals, including “to train the leaders of tomorrow” and to make sure “that anytime a visitor comes to our campus, they leave wishing they could stay.”
Wendland’s charisma and dedication to cultivating learning make her the quintessential person for the job. During her tenure as interim dean, she made clear her willingness to engage with all academic departments, ranging from the humanities to the hard sciences. This was evidenced by the creation of a new interdisciplinary “Medicine, Science, and Humanities” major — a program we still strongly disagree with, but one that shows a fresh willingness to transcend departmental bounds in an attempt to provide students the best possible education, however misguided the particular major may be.
Yet Wendland’s proven track record in the Hopkins community extends far beyond her time as interim dean. As the Biology Department’s Chair, Wendland has navigated the often politically-charged canals of academia with pose and compassion. She has earned a reputation as a fair leader whose policy aims are rooted in a strong desire to see students succeed. Approachable and respected, Wendland’s appointment as dean of the Krieger School marks a turning point for an institution that has, in the past, seen its fair share of divisive leadership.
The Editorial Board wholeheartedly endorses the selection of Wendland and eagerly looks forward to her leadership.
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