August 22, 1997

Two of Loyola's dedicated administrators bid farewell

Claire J. Paolini, who began her affiliation with Loyola in 1975, left at the end of July to assume the deanship of the College of Arts and Sciences at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn.

Because Sacred Heart has created a new academic structure with four colleges, Paolini will not only be the new dean, but the founding dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Sacred Heart is the third largest Catholic university in New England with 5,500 undergraduate and graduate students.

Paolini, who was associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Loyola, began working at the university as coordinator of international student affairs. In 1980 she was made assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and, in 1983, associate dean.

Her excellence as a teacher and administrator garnered Paolini local, regional, and national recognition. Most recently, the Association of Academic Affairs Administrators named her the "Academic Administrator of the Year" for the state of Louisiana. She also has been recognized by the American College Training Service with the "Best Institutional Advising Program," the Noel/Levitz National Center for Student Retention Award for Outstanding Success in Retention Programming for "Mentored" General Studies Program and, in 1979, Loyola awarded Paolini its Coadjutor Optimus Award for dedicated and meritorious job performance.

The Rev. Joseph A. Currie, S.J., also left his position as Loyola's dean of Campus Ministry at the end of July. Fr. Currie heads to New York City where he will lead Fordham University's campus ministry program.

"His commitment to service, his passion for social justice, and his extraordinary personal compassion have distinguished him clearly as 'a person for others' during his Loyola tenure," commented Fr. Knoth on Fr. Currie's dedication.

The Rev. Clyde H. LeBlanc, S.J., director of the Jesuit Center, will serve as interim dean of Campus Ministry. A national search for a Campus Ministry dean will be conducted during the 1997-1998 academic year.