Ed White Retires -- Engineering News: Vanderbilt University School of Engineering

Vanderbilt University School of Engineering News

Student Champion Ed White Retires to New Activities
Associate Dean to Don Black Hat for Last Time December 31

Dean Ed White with his signature black hat and John Deere tractors
Photo by Peyton Hoge

Come December 31, the School of Engineering will lose its beloved associate dean -- the tall, lean figure often seen walking around campus wearing a black hat.
Ed White often joked that he wore the black hat because he was the "bad guy," the man who "threw" students out of school. Quite the contrary, say other administrators.
"Ed has a big, compassionate heart for the students," says Professor Bob Stammer. "When I first became assistant dean for student affairs in 1989, he told me, 'I will wear the black hat and be the bad guy, and you will be their friend.' But certainly Ed has been a friend to the students and done much behind the scenes. He is the oil that makes the student academic machinery work."
"Ed is a man possessed of great wisdom and intelligence," adds Professor Art Overholser, who replaces White as associate dean. "He enforces academic standards in a way that helps people's lives, and he does so quietly and behind the scenes. I have worked under his wing for a whole year and probably ask his advice

at least twice a day."
White came to Vanderbilt in 1986 from the University of Virginia with Edward Parrish, previous dean of the School of Engineering. A former assistant dean at UVa, White had the experience to run the VUSE undergraduate school. At Vanderbilt, he handled such academic matters as awarding scholarship money and probational matters, and day-to-day operations of the School.

Dean White and students Johnny Metoyer and Johnny Nieri discuss circuit equations in matrix form. Photo by Peyton Hoge

A challenge early on was the installation of the computer network at the School of Engineering. "When we arrived at Vanderbilt, there were personal computers scattered around, but none in the dean's office and only a few available for undergraduates." Since that time, the School has made regular improvements in both the numbers of computers and capability of the network so that networked computers are located in virtually every office and lab in the School.
An unexpected shortfall of freshmen students in 1989 created a budget crisis, the greatest problem to occur during his tenure. "That shortfall brought attention to the need for better recruitment and retention activities," White says.
More than 50 percent of his job has involved taking care of a myriad of student problems. "The job entails handling a steady succession of unforeseeable situations. Problems arrive over the transom unannounced and have to be dealt with immediately. I frequently don't find out about a student's troubles until his or her academic performance has fallen. In many cases, students are facing real personal crises, and I have had to help them work through it, including encouraging them to get professional help."
White will retain an association with Vanderbilt over the next few years. He doesn't know what retirement holds for him, but travel and volunteerism surely will play a part. As for his years at Vanderbilt and his career in general, he sums it up nicely: "When your work is more fun than anything else you could be doing, it is not work anymore."

Staff Changes in the Dean's Office

In his new role as associate dean, Professor Art Overholser has administrative responsibility for the undergraduate and graduate programs of the School of Engineering. Katy Brandt, former director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for the University, joined the Dean's Office as administrative officer and coordinator of business and industry outreach. She also serves as the School's liaison with Vanderbilt's Career Center. Professor Bob Stammer has been promoted from assistant dean to associate dean for student affairs.