New Vice President of Academic Affairs: Dr. Sally A. White

What does an all male college, the up- and -coming pharmaceutical school, and the 2000 Olympic volleyball team have in common? The answer is the new Vice President Sally A. White of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty.

This woman, who wears many hats, walked into campus Sept. 10 but really started out when she was first announced in May. White stated she felt emotionally and mentally connected to Notre Dame ever since then.

White replaced Suzanne Shipley, Ph.D., who later became president of Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.Va. last May.

White comes to the community from Lehigh University, whose history is not so different from Notre Dame's. Lehigh has a long standing tradition just like Notre Dame. However, instead of a women's college, Lehigh used to be in an all male college until it opened its undergraduate doors to women 36 years ago. The undergraduate program is still predominantly male though.

"Both colleges have a similar feeling to them but instead of the campus being predominately male, it is a majority female campus," said White.

White's main focus on campus will be to prepare a new strategic plan for improving the school and to further the development of the pharmaceutical school. She hopes that this will increase the school profile along with bringing in more women to be a part of the Notre Dame community.

Another goal White ¬¬¬wants to achieve is the development of a student focus group that will meet monthly with her to discuss student academic life. "I have tried this in other schools and it has been very successful. I hope to increase the intellectual vitality of the students here at Notre Dame," she said.

Along with White's long list of academic accomplishments, including raising millions of dollars for grants, publishing hundreds of papers, and being honored with teaching and national research awards; White was a key link in connecting sports and psychology. She was asked to be a part of the Sports and Medicine Inaugural Committee from 1996-2000 because of her clinical research with athletes involving psychology. This committee was formed to spread research amongst the Olympic teams. Each member was assigned a specific sports team to explain defined research to the coaches. Dr. White had the honor of being assigned to the U.S. Volleyball team, who won a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

Hopefully, she will have a chance to guest lecture at a psychology class, considering she is heading the faculty; developing a new strategic plan; supporting the rising pharmaceutical school; and cultivating faculty relations and development.

"I am thrilled to be joining the administrative team and faculty at College of Notre Dame," said Dr. White. "I am struck by the dedication of the faculty to student learning both in the classroom and in co-curricular activities."

Mary Pat Seurkamp, Ph.D., president of College of Notre Dame, said that "Dr. Sally White is committed to Notre Dame's mission to educate students who can contribute to society and the world to bring about positive change."