With the resignation of Dean Straker, former dean of Academic Affairs Don O’Meara has been named Interim Dean. After receiving his Ph.D. at the University of Notre Dame, Dean O’ Meara has been with RWC for over 30 years, since September 1977. Beginning as a Sociology professor, Dean O’Meara served as Chair of the Behavioral Sciences Department until 1994, when he was named RWC’s Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.
Life has now changed for Dean O’Meara. “More responsibility, huge commitment, and ultimate decision making,” he said but emphasized how supportive his wife, Kathy, has been through the entire time after being named Interim Dean. “[She] has been nothing but supportive of me and my endeavors,” he said. He also pointed out that his four daughters, whom he called the “core” of his life, have been helpful in the transition process.
Even though Dean O’Meara contends that there is a lot of responsibility, he credits his stress management with helping to make life easier. He continues to exercise and weight train daily, which he says he has been doing for years.
Regarding the future of RWC, he said that every dean has his or her own vision of what should happen, and he intends to make a lot of changes at RWC. “Becoming Ohio’s best regional campus is our goal,” he pointed out. He spoke of new organizations to help impact life here at RWC. He credited his staff with identifying things we are doing really well and things we want to improve on.”
He stated that “we want to continue to do things well, but we also want to do some things better.”
The Strategic Planning Process, for example, needs to be improved, he said. He also spoke about how his “vision” influenced the focus on high priority goals, missions, and philosophy. One of the biggest things he wants to see is more student feedback. He would like to hear more of what RWC students like and what they would like changed.
“We have a great faculty and staff here at Raymond Walters,” he explained, “and I believe we have a great student body as well. I would love for students to tell me exactly what they want out of their experience here, and then we can go on that.”
Dean O’Meara also stated that he intends to support and enhance other things we do well at the college, like academic assessment and study abroad programs. Winter quarter will see a change with the arrival of a community college survey, he said. “With this survey we will get a much better idea of where we are right now as a college,” he explained. He pointed out that there will be “great things” ahead for RWC.
Replacing Dean O’Meara as Interim Associate Dean of Academic Affairs is Dr. Robert Howell, who had been Associate Dean of Outreach and Continuing Education for RWC. Dean Howell respectfully declined to be interviewed for this story, explaining that he prefers to stay out of the limelight.
A long time Notre Dame alum and football fan, Dean O’Meara wanted to make one more point: “I’m still flying my Notre Dame flag high!” he declared with a broad smile. It’s clear the new RWC Dean is an optimist of the highest order.