Teresa Fry Brown, Bandy Professor of Preaching, and Ted A. Smith, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Divinity, have taken on new roles in Candler’s administration, effective July 1.
Adding to the pair’s professorial titles, Fry Brown is now Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Smith is Associate Dean of Faculty. The responsibilities of the two positions have been united under role one for most of the last 30 years, with Professor of Church History Jonathan Strom in the dual post for the past seven years. As administrative duties have continued to multiply, the decision was made to spread the responsibilities between two positions once again.
“I am thrilled that Teresa and Ted have taken up the challenge and opportunity these new positions offer, and I very much look forward to working with each of them,” says Dean Jan Love. “I also want to thank Jonathan Strom for all he has done over the last seven years in this combined role. His wise counsel, steadfast attention to detail, creative imagination, and deep dedication to the well-being of faculty, students, and the entire school have been exceptional. I am especially grateful for his unflappable, adaptive leadership through the first years of the pandemic and for ably managing extra duties at Candler during the 19 months I was serving as Emory’s interim provost.”
As Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Fry Brown will oversee the curriculum for all of Candler’s degree programs and auxiliary programs, such as denominational programs and special interest area programs, as well as Contextual Education and Teaching Parish. She will supervise the school’s Office of Academic Support, serve as the point person for student academic performance issues and degree program assessments, and provide representation of student concerns for curricular and academic matters.
In the role of Associate Dean of Faculty, Smith will enhance faculty teaching and scholarship; nurture and mentor faculty through professional development opportunities; and manage faculty searches, reviews for tenure and promotion, and requests for sabbatical and research leaves. He will also guide planning for the future configuration of the Candler faculty.
Both positions facilitate intellectual life of the Candler community and advocate and interpret faculty concerns to the administration.