THE CARROLL NEWS: JCU welcomes new Day

JCU welcomes new Day
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Katie Sheridan on 17 April, 2008 01:00:00
 
John Carroll University selected John Day as the new academic vice president. 
Day currently serves as vice president of academic affairs and dean at Roanoke
College in Salem, Va.
Former JCU Academic Vice President David La Guardia is stepping down from the
position.  After a sabbatical he will return to teach academic literature in the
English Department.
La Guardia said, “While Dr. Day will not need any advice from me, I
certainly wish him great success as he takes on the challenges of this new and
important position.”
When La Guardia announced his decision to step down, a committee was formed to
select a new academic vice president.  The eight member committee, chaired by
Graciela Lacueva of the physics department, selected Day.
The group focused on finding someone with experience at or above the
dean’s level. They looked for someone with academic leadership who was
dedicated to diversity and had a distinguished resume.
Lacueva said, “We wanted somebody who was able to lead the University
into the future.”
He looks forward to the challenge of moving from Roanoke to JCU. Day has spent
the last six years dedicated to improving Roanoke, specifically the academic
department.  While at Roanoke, he helped to bring 45 new tenured-track faculty
to the college.
He graduated summa cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester,
Mass.  Day also has a doctorate from Harvard University in English and American
Literature.
Prior to Roanoke he spent 23 years at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. as
chair of the English department.  St. Olaf provided him with his first taste of
the academic department, where he served as assistant vice president.
Day decided to leave Roanoke in efforts to find an institution of his own faith
tradition.  Day said, “I look forward to contributing to Catholic and
Jesuit higher education.”
His new position involves furthering student learning, academic programs, and
enhancing the Jesuit Catholic mission.  “There are folks at John Carroll
who already know a great deal about enhancing the Jesuit Catholic mission, so I
plan to talk to them.  I was very impressed by the John Carroll Catholic and
Jesuit mission statement.”
The selection committee is satisfied with their decision.  Lacueva said,
“We hope he will highlight academics.  We hope he will move the department
forward and progress and create more resources for the academic
department.”