After 13 years as College of General Studies dean at Boston University, Dean Linda Wells announced she will step down to pursue different interests.
“It has been my timeline,” Wells said. “Something clicks in your head, and you know when you need a new direction in your life. I’ll be 65 when I step down. I’m not at the end of things, but I want to do something slightly different.”
After spending 33 years at BU in a number of roles ranging from faculty member to dean, Wells said, she is looking forward to a year on sabbatical, after which she plans to return to BU in a reduced capacity.
“She’s done a spectacular job in leading CGS, which is a unique college at BU,” said University Provost Jean Morrison. “It’s a two-year program that has had really extraordinary success, much of which is attributed to Linda’s leadership.”
During her sabbatical, Wells said she plans to continue her research on work and how it shapes individual’s identity.
“I like to talk about how students, how individuals, form their world view and how people take on their attitudes about what work is,” she said.
When she returns, Wells said she hopes to work with student-career development and alumni relations.
“I’m hoping to have some way to explore this through the new career center in truly a part-time capacity,” she said.
As dean, Wells said she has focused her efforts on improving the physical space of the CGS building, enhancing the quality of the faculty and promoting the interdisciplinary liberal arts aspect of the college to potential students. She has attempted to improve flexibility and encourage more students to study abroad.
“She’s provided vision and strategic planning for the college and the university at a very critical time in the university’s history, involving faculty development, curriculum development and student development,” said Stacy Godnick, senior assistant dean of CGS who has worked with Wells for more than 20 years.
Wells envisioned the Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching & Learning, which enhances and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration for faculty and students and substantiates the relevance of the liberal arts education, Godnick said.
“We have a new space that is being renovated,” she said. “That’s going to be my last decorating job.”
Godnick said Wells put CGS on the map nationwide as one of the premier interdisciplinary liberal arts programs.
“That’s one of her main legacies — she’s traveled the world promoting the interdisciplinary core curriculum that other schools and colleges are trying to emulate,” Godnick said.
Wells said working with young people and having the opportunity to teach has been an honor.
“I think my legacy will be my own students,” Wells said. “I was a faculty member here for a long time. That’s what really motivates me — that is what is fulfilling to me as a teacher.”
Morrison said Wells has provided outstanding leadership in all aspects of the college.
“She’s done an excellent job putting the academic programs in place and ensuring that the college offers rigorous and effective education,” she said. “She’s been an excellent colleague to the other deans and those in the senior administration. She’s been an incredible advocate for BU outside the university with the families who have children who have been in CGS, but also with the alumni.”
Godnick said she is happy Wells is moving on to the next stage in her life but is sad the college will no longer have her leadership.
“She is absolutely, by far, the best boss I’ve had in my 30 years in higher education,” she said. “She really is one of a kind. She brings out the best in people, she motivates people, she provides an incredibly egalitarian work environment and is really one of a kind.”
Wells will continue to be the dean of CGS until May 2013, Morrison said.
“We have begun the process for identifying her successor,” Morrison said. “We hope to have that individual identified so that person can step into the job when she steps down at the end of the academic year.”
Wells said she is delighted to have served as the role of dean, but is not conflicted about leaving.
“I am honored to have been able to spend my career in higher education,” Wells said. “It is endlessly interesting. I love it at BU — I didn’t know I would spend my whole career here, but I did.”
Chris Lisinski contributed to the reporting of this story.
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