By Natalie Clark
The new dean of the College of Humanities started the semester with new ideas, after the former was called to preside over a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in May.
The dean, John Rosenberg, plans to operate according to several principles to establish an environment of trust and collegiality among faculty.
?I think the most important thing we do in the dean?s office is to try to provide an environment so that our gifted faculty can best take advantage of their skills and their resources as they seek to bless the lives of their students,? Rosenberg said.
Using the principles of transparency, fairness, remembering covenants, stewardship and taking the long way, Rosenberg said he hopes to add to the lives of students through the teachers.
Academic Vice President John Tanner appointed Rosenberg dean of the College of Humanities after his predecessor, Van Gessel, was called to preside over the Portland Oregon mission. Rosenberg started his five-year term as dean immediately.
?With the recent establishment of the Mary Lou Fulton Chair in World Languages, the college will continue to work on creating advanced classes for all languages,? Rosenberg said.
Rosenberg said his personal professional fulfillment is teaching students in and out of the classroom. Not being in the classroom as much as he would like is one of the disadvantages of administrative assignment.
Since starting at BYU in 1985, Rosenberg has taught 14 different courses, including undergraduate, honors and graduate level classes.
?John is a capable leader and brings much experience as a former associate dean of the college,? Tanner said. ?He will be very active in faculty development within the College of Humanities. He is truly an example of a wonderful scholar-teacher.?
Rosenberg specializes in 19th and 20th century Spanish literature and wrote ?The Black Butterfly: Concepts of Spanish Romanticism? and ?The Circular Pilgrimage: An Anatomy of the Confessional Autobiography in Spain.?
He is also the editor of a Spanish book and has written many scholarly articles. He also participates frequently in national and international conferences, including the Intensive Summer Spanish Institute in August.
Rosenberg is married to Gaylamarie Green Rosenberg. They have two daughters, Marie and Eliza.
