By Jen Nelson

Executive Vice Provost Coleen Pantalone, a key figure in Northeastern’s semester conversion, has stepped down from her position, returning to the faculty of the College of Business Administration (CBA).

“Three years ago I agreed to direct semester conversion,” Pantalone said. “Now semester conversion is over. It’s a good time to return to this business [of teaching], to work with students and others in my field.”

Since semester conversion is complete throughout the university, Pantalone’s job is finished and therefore she will not be replaced.

There will no longer be “one vice provost overseeing the rest,” Pantalone said.

Provost Ahmed Abdelal praised Pantalone’s dedication to the difficult process of transitioning the university to the semester system.

“She guided a very complex process,” Abdelal said. “She’s a very high-caliber person. She is a very effective manager with either projects or in groups. Anyone with those qualities would be missed.”

Pantalone came to Northeastern in 1981 as an assistant professor of finance in the CBA. She was promoted to associate professor in 1987 before serving as associate dean for undergraduate programs in the CBA from 1993 to 1996. Pantalone became the vice provost for undergraduate education in 1997, and was later promoted to executive vice provost in 1999. Pantalone will be on sabbatical until she returns in January 2005.

“I look at this as a normal process,” Abdelal said. “I didn’t argue with her.”

Pantalone will be teaching finance when she returns next year.

“We’re thrilled that she’s returning,” said CBA Dean Ira Weiss. “She’s an excellent teacher. She’s going to retrain herself and come back and just be dynamite in the classroom.”

Although Pantalone is excited to return to teaching, she expressed that she would miss her position as vice provost.

“I worked with people from every area of Northeastern,” Pantalone said. “It was fun to see what other people [within the university] did and how dedicated they were.”

Pantalone, who ran the entire semester conversion process from beginning to end, said she was satifsfied with the results.

“It was an effort made by the whole university,” she said. “I think it’s going remarkably well.”

Abdelal agrees with Pantalone.

“The process won’t be complete until we complete one full cycle,” Abdelal said. “But our retention rates are improving and continuing to improve [after semester conversion].”