IUPUI Chancellor names search committee for new Optometry dean

The search for a new School of Optometry dean is underway.\nA search committee has been formed and the administration hopes to have a replacement for current dean Jerry Lowther by next summer. Lowther will retire after almost 10 years in office, Lowther’s secretary Sue Gilmore said. \nCharles R. Bantz, Chancellor of IU-Purdue University Indianapolis, said he appointed representatives from different departments, a member of the community and an academic representative to the search committee.\nGilmore said there are 14 members on the committee. Lowther was appointed in October 1998 and will serve as dean until the committee has found a replacement. \nOptometry student Kyle King said he thinks it can be good to bring in someone new every once in a while who has different ideas, but praised Lowther’s efforts. \n“Dean Lowther has done a tremendous job at the IU School of Optometry,” King said. “Under his tenure, many positives have come about, including higher board passing rates.” \nThe committee will be putting out advertisements through a newsletter on the Web to search for potential candidates, Bantz said. He said the committee has not yet written the job description for the new dean. \nThe candidate chosen for the position will need to be able to lead the school and support the research, teaching and clinical aspects of the school, Bantz said. \nThe committee should reach a decision on the position by late winter. During the next few months, potential candidates will be interviewed on campus, but the trustees of the school will have to approve the selected candidate before the position is set, Bantz said. \n“We want someone in place by next summer,” Bantz said. \nKing said that whoever is chosen to fill the position should be willing to work to improve the school for the sake of its students and patients. \n“I have every confidence that the school will find a great person to take the place of Dean Lowther, who leaves very large shoes to fill,” King said.