by Zack Sampson, News Correspondent

Bouvé College of Health Sciences Dean Stephen Zoloth announced his resignation in an e-mail to the college’s faculty and staff last Tuesday.

“I have always thrived on new challenges, and on reflection, I think that now is a good time to look for new ways to make an impact,” he said in the e-mail. “Therefore, I have told the President and Provost that I have decided to step down as dean.”

Students in the college have yet to obtain an official announcement but soon will receive an e-mail similar to the one sent to faculty. Though the letter will be sent, some students are surprised they have yet to receive news of the decision.

“Yeah, I guess I am [surprised], because it is our college,” freshman physical therapy major Kena Patel said.

The announcement comes as the Dean enters his 11th year in the position. Because of his long tenure, some said they are not shocked he is moving on.

“I think that whenever a person has been in a position for 10 or 11 years in that capacity, it’s never really a surprise,” said Mary Watson, an Associate Professor of Health Sciences.

Dean Zoloth’s choice was influenced significantly by multiple factors, beyond just individual preference. The strong standing of the college weighed heavily on his decision making process, he said.

“I reflected both on my personal plans and where the college is, and I think that it’s a really great time in Bouvé,” Zoloth said. “The college is really doing fabulously; the students are great, the faculty is great, research is really outstanding this year … so I thought, you know, it was a good time for me both personally and professionally.”

A key aspect that influenced Zoloth’s resignation was a report he gave at the University’s Senior Leadership Retreat last summer. He said the success indicated in the report made him think about transitioning.

“As I reflected on our successes last summer, I realized that this would be a moment like no other, and it gave me an opportunity to think about the future,” he said.

Some faculty and staff have responded positively to the announcement.

“He’s given the college a lot … and I think it’s his time to move to do whatever it is that he feels is the next step in his career,” Watson said.

As to his next step, Zoloth is in negotiations to remain at the university in a different leadership role. According to the faculty announcement, his next position will pertain to new initiatives in health research and education.

“I’m talking to the President and the Provost about a position here at Northeastern that would be university wide, and that would be in sort of the areas that I’m particularly interested in,” he said.

He said he hopes he will transition smoothly with minimal impact on current Bouvé students.

“I hope it will not have an effect except a positive one for the students, in terms of looking forward and thinking about their education and being a part of the community of the college,” Zoloth said.

Freshman physical therapy major Lauren Jarmusz said she thinks Zoloth’s resignation will have minimal and potentially beneficial results.

“Change is sometimes a good thing, it brings in new ideas, and with what he left behind, I’m sure they can build on that,” she said.

The next part of the resignation process involves finding a replacement for Zoloth, as he will not leave his position until Northeastern finds a successor. Often this process is intensive and requires significant care, Zoloth said.

“I think the Provost will initiate a search with the Faculty Senate, there is a process for that. … I [also] suspect they will hire a search firm like they did for the new deans,” he said.

Some Bouvé staff members said they hope the search for a new dean will produce someone capable of continuing the work Zoloth has done.

“You never know who the new leader is going to be and what they bring to the university; so we’ll have to just wait and see and carefully choose our next dean so that he’s someone that will carry on a lot of the good things that we’ve already started here,” Watson said.

The replacement effort also involves students, an aspect of which he hopes many will take advantage. Student representatives serve on search groups along with other university faculty.

Some believe this emphasis on student voices is a necessity since the choice of a new dean directly impacts their academic career.

“If it’s your college, you want to be involved because it’s a say in your future,” Patel said.