Interim Honors College Dean Named

David Gross, professor emeritus of English at the University of Oklahoma, has been named interim dean of the University of Maine Honors College, where he has been a part-time faculty member since 2005.

Gross has been endorsed by University of Maine System Chancellor James H. Page and recommended to the Board of Trustees as interim dean. His term of service will begin this semester.

Gross will assume the interim role due to the sudden passing this summer of Honors Dean Charlie Slavin.

Gross had a distinguished academic career at the University of Oklahoma. For five years, he served as assistant director of the University of Oklahoma Honors Program, and was a member of a diverse number of university and college administrative committees, including the University Budget Council, Graduate Council and College Executive Council. He has been recognized by the University of Oklahoma Regents for Excellence in Teaching and received numerous awards, including the College of Liberal Studies Kenneth Crook Outstanding Faculty Award, the Student Association Award for Outstanding Teaching in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Association of English Graduate Students First Annual Award for Excellence in Teaching, General Education Teaching Award, and the College of Liberal Studies Superior Teaching Award.

Gross received a B.A. in French (with Honors) from Wesleyan University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of Iowa.

A national search for a permanent dean of the Honors College will be conducted this academic year.

Contact: Margaret Nagle (207) 581-3745