Dr. Lewis Tony Finley became dean of the School of Education at the end of the 19971998 school year. Finley has been at Harding University since 1985, teaching educational media, science and graduate classes such as School Law. "As dean, I am more involved in the operation of the school rather than teaching as much as I did in the past," Finley said. "I'm responsible for the certification of our students and those that are coming back to certify." The work load has increased with his new title, according to Finley. "We have 17 faculty members in the school and we probably have the largest number of students in our teaching program as in any program on campus, so we have a lot of work to do," he sa id. Finley talked about how helpful his position has been in keeping up with what is going on with students. "Currently the big thing going on in Arkansas education is teacher licensure and that is changing our curriculum tremendously, so we are involved in it to meet the new licensure standards that are going into effect January I , 2002," he said. The change of position has been important to Finley, both personally and professionally. "I enjoy doing this," he sa id . "My background is just so varied. This is my35th year as a teacher. I came to Harding Academy in 1978 to teach chemistry." Previous to that, Finley taught in public schools , elementary and junior high schools. "Iwas elementary principal of public schools, so I havewo rked in administrative positions for a number of years in the past," he said. He plans to keep his position as dean for Dr. Tony Finley visits with Katie Peters outside the American Studies building. Taking time to talk with the students was an important part of the job of the new dean ofeducation. many years. "I told Dr. Burks I would like to stay in 12 years; I would be 67 years old at that time," hesaid. "That would give mea total of47 yea rs of teaching and administration skills. At the end I might think about doing something different. " Finley said he is so busy that he hardly misses his last job. "Every time I have gone to a different position in an institution, I have missed what I have done before, but there is so much to do in this new position that I rea lly don't have time to miss it," he said. Finley said this position is time-consuming, and there are always new challenges involved. The School of Education and I make every effort to put the student first. Doing that and taking care of business takes a lot of time," he said. The decision to change positions was totally professional. Finley said. "Dr. Coker retired from this position," he said. "He had been dean for 20 years, and a year from this December hewill retire from the School ofEducation, so the position came open and I applied." Finley said his position created some changes in his profess ional and personal life, but it never affected him. "My wife and I have always been very invo lved here at Harding, and I put in longer days than I used to," he said. "But my schedule has always been start early and finish late, and my wife is very supportive. There are extra things that come up that we wi ll normally stay after the usual time, but it has been very enjoyable." Finley thinks of his change as more than a position. "I look at it not as a position, but as a responsibility with the job," he said. - Julieta Gil , I • Pho10 by Salomon Pineda Dr. Randy McLeod speaks at the annual School of Business relrea /. McLeod was present for business school functions throughout the year. • 142 ACADEM ICS
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