Staff Editorial: Welcome, Dean McLendon

The University announced this week the hiring of George McLendon, chair of Princeton University's chemistry department, as the next dean of the faculty of Arts and Sciences.

The Princeton scholar's appointment seems a solid and well-calculated move as the University continues in its efforts to reach the highest levels of undergraduate and graduate education in the United States.

McClendon is an interesting choice to succeed outgoing Dean William Chafe on a number of levels, perhaps foremost among them the fact that he is not a hire from within the Gothic Wonderland. At a time of incredible turnover in the administration, another new face might cause some to wonder about the possibly tenuous transition period that will begin this summer, when Duke welcomes McLendon, President-elect Richard Brodhead, the yet-to-be-named Health System president and CEO, and others. However, the external hire is a bold and exciting move, as McLendon should bring a fresh perspective to the University, offering new ideas and insight. Whether or not Duke needs that green perspective to be one of an Ivy shade is up for debate, but if McLendon feels that what works at Princeton or its Northeastern peers could work at Duke, he should not be afraid to take the appropriate steps to bring those approaches with him to Durham.

McLendon is also a notable and visionary scholar in the field of biochemistry, and his expertise in the natural sciences will bring a welcome balance to Brodhead's humanities and Provost Peter Lange's social sciences backgrounds. Though he may be impartial toward those departments that reside on the north side of Science Drive, McLendon should take note that the University's priorities have leaned toward the natural sciences in recent years, and it may be soon time to switch back in the other directions. Importantly, McLendon's bridging of the fields of chemistry and biology also reveals an ingrained interest in interdisciplinary work, a hallmark of Lange's tenure as provost and a key component of 21st century Duke.

Where McLendon will need to prove himself is his ability to take on the administrative responsibilities of the deanship, of which he had little experience at Princeton. He is inheriting a budget shortfall for the next few years, and how he turns around Arts and Sciences' financial woes will likely set the tone for the rest of his tenure. In his transition year, McLendon will need to learn very quickly not just about the University, but about what it takes to be Duke's top dean. We're looking forward to it.