Several changes have taken place within the College of Sciences, which will have four new chairs to enter the Fall 2009 semester.

Steve Daniels has been appointed the new chair of the department of physics, replacing Leonard Storm, who will return to his faculty position until he retires from Eastern in December.

Daniels sees the ability to directly interact with students as one of the strengths of the department. He believes that one thing he will focus on during his time as chair is getting mentoring opportunities for students, allowing students to work with faculty members in research projects.

“Students that report back after graduating-many of them report that the mentoring experience that they get here is one of the most important parts of their college experience,” Daniels said. “The nation is moving toward more mentoring and I think we need to do that, too. It’s the way of the future.”

Other key issues that Daniels intends to focus on include recruiting students and fostering a collegial atmosphere.

“We’re trying to grow and make the department more attractive to students,” Daniels said.

“I have a vision for the department,” he said. “I know where the department needs to go and I want to see it get there. I think I can do that.”

The sociology / anthropology department will also have a new leader in Craig Eckert. Eckert has been appointed to the chair position where he will take over for the soon-to-be retired Gary Foster, who has served as chair of the department for the past nine years.

“My main goal is to carry on the good tradition that Dr. Foster has as a leader working on behalf of the department,” Eckert said.

Eckert said one thing he will focus on is an analysis of some “pretty significant changes” that have taken place in the curriculum.

“I want to be overseeing these new changes and make sure they improve our curriculum here in the department,” he said.

Another issue that the new chair plans to act on is something that will help his current faculty members.

According to Eckert, the classes within the department “tend to be maxed out,” so he hopes to be able to bring another faculty member in to help.

“It would really be great if we could get another faculty member into our department,” said Eckert. “I think it would help faculty morale and I think it would help students.”

Eckert has served as mayor of Philo for “going on 13 years” and believes that his time in that position has also helped prepare him for his new position at Eastern.

Foster also showed confidence in his successor.

“I think he will carry on and bring his own vision to the department and will be successful in the pursuit of that vision,” Foster said.

There are also two that will be serving as interim chairs: Gary Bulla and Mark McGuire. Bulla will serve as the interim chair of biological sciences and McGuire will serve as interim chair of the chemistry department.

Bulla will serve as interim chair for one year and there will be a search for the next chair during his time. McGuire will serve as the interim chair for six months until Dan Sheeran, who is the appointed chair of the chemistry department, completes a research sabbatical.

Sheeran, after the completion of his sabbatical, will begin his appointment as chair on January 1, 2010, but was unavailable for comment.

Spenser Nobles can be reached at 581-7943 or at dennewsdesk@gmail.com.