Thorp's deanship lends crucial experience

During his year as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Chancellor-elect Holden Thorp developed qualities that his colleagues say will help him succeed in his new position.

"The college is the heart and soul of the University and has been historically," said William Andrews, the senior associate dean for Fine Arts and Humanities. "So it's quite appropriate for the chancellor to come from the college."

Andrews said that although Thorp hails from a science background, he has been supportive of other areas of education, as well.

As chancellor, Andrews said, Thorp will be a good representative of both students and faculty.

"I think that he'll appreciate the kind of opportunities that students have here to become a fully rounded person."

The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and oldest school at UNC. About 22 percent of all graduate and professional students are in the college, and more than 70 percent of undergraduates choose a major in the college.

The college faculty teach 87 percent of all undergraduate credit hours. Bruce Carney, the senior associate dean for sciences, said Thorp has been particularly effective in attracting, recruiting and retaining faculty.

Carney said the best researchers and teachers in the college are always those specifically targeted for recruitment.

"We've had a couple of very strong faculty we've wooed in the past year that we've been able to keep despite expectations that we would not be able to do so," he said.

Carney appointed Thorp as chairman of the chemistry department in 2005.

Karen Gil, the senior associate dean for social sciences, said that Thorp is concerned not only with recruiting for the college, but also fundraising for it.

"He spent a lot of time working with and talking to our alumni and friends and donors to the University."

Gil said the funds Thorp raised helped support distinguished professorships, the honors program, the first-year seminar program, study abroad programs and newer minors in the college, such as the entrepreneurship minor.

And fundraising is becoming increasingly important as the University prepares for major growth, Gil said.

In coming years, the University could grow to as many as 35,000 students. As dean, Thorp aimed for the college to continue the quality of education it currently provides.

If the University were to accommodate such a large student population, the college would have to increase its faculty, graduate students, staff and facilities by about 28 percent to maintain a student-to-faculty ratio of 23-to-1.

"It's going to be a very daunting problem," Carney said. "He understands what's going to happen if the University grows by 20 percent."

After working with Thorp for three years, Carney has confidence in Thorp's ability to do well in his new post.

"He really does understand the multitude of challenges he's going to face, and I expect he's going to be very successful in meeting them."

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