Sometimes Good Things Happen

Today was Annual Convocations Day at Texas Woman’s University (TWU). On this day each year, the outstanding students, faculty members, and staff members receive awards. Also, distinguished alums are introduced.

A special thing happened today. My friend, Mike Wiebe, received the Cornaro Professor Award, which is the highest honor a faculty member can receive at TWU. It was particulary special, becuase Dr. Stuart, TWU’s Chancellor, had to present him with this honor. Shortly after she became TWU’s Chancellor, she removed Mike from his position as Dean, College of Education and Human Services, and replaced him with a far less skillful administrator. Mike is highly accomplished, but very humble. It was delightful to realize that Dr. Stuart had to read excerpts from letters of those who nominated Mike for this honor, and that these excerpts praised him for his administrative skills and accomplishments, as well as his scholarship.

Life tends to have interesting twists and turns. Mike Wiebe continued to accomplish great things following his removal from the dean position, including a recent assessment of the No Child Left Behind program. The administrator with which Dr. Stuart replaced Mike as dean had to be removed within 18 months due to a faculty revolt. Faculty members and departmental chairs were so dissatisfied with the replacement administrator that they threatened to disrupt the visit of a SACS Accreditation Site Visit Team if he were not removed before the Team arrived on campus.

Mike gave the best acceptance speech I have heard by a Cornaro Professor honoree, including me (Note: I received the Cornaor Professor Award in 2007). Good things do happen occasionally.

Tags: Coming Full Circle
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