A group of nine faculty, staff and students has been assembled to participate in an ad hoc committee, designed to help Chancellor Joe Steinmetz become more educated about the university, get a clearer picture of the environment on campus, and to help guide priority action items.

The committee will meet monthly for six months initially, with the possibility of an extension in the summer. The transition team members were selected to represent a wide range of campus interests and insights, yet remain small enough to foster productive conversation. They are:

• Tanner Bone, ASG president
• Lorraine Brewer, chemistry faculty
• Lionel Davis, student, National Society of Black Engineers
• Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis, music faculty
• Charles Small, director of student-athlete development
• Tom Smith, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions
• Trish Watkins, chair of Staff Senate
• Leslie Yingling, director of the Center for Multiculturalism and Diversity Education
• Laura Jacobs, chief of staff, convener

"I'm interested in learning what issues and opportunities may be present on all topics – from history and culture, communication and information, campus climate to values and aspirations of all campus quarters," said Steinmetz. "We invite members of the campus community to share their thoughts through a member of the transition team if they wish."

The transition team process will dovetail with the campus strategic planning process, that also gets underway this month and is outlined in broad strokes here.