New Undergraduates Dean Hutchinson reflects on appointment

By Seth Brown     7/29/10 7:00pm

Chemistry professor John Hutchinson replaced Robin Forman on July 1 as Dean of Undergraduates, following Forman's departure from Rice to serve as dean of the Colleges of Arts and Sciences at Emory University. The Thresher sat down with Hutchinson, the second Dean of Undergraduates in the history of Rice, for an exclusive interview as he reflects on his new position, the residential college system and the incoming class of 2014.The Rice Thresher: What are your goals for your time as Dean of Undergraduates?

Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson: I believe that the undergraduate program at Rice is excellent, in some ways second to none. We do some things extremely well and others well. Part of my goal is to work to build on this - that means working closely with the faculty and the Faculty Senate and understand where they want to go with the undergraduate experience. I'm also a strong believer in the system of student self-governance; I will continue to work to help strengthen that component of the undergraduate experience.

RT: What about Rice do you find unique?

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H: Our system of student self-governance is fairly unique - it gives students a greater role in determining the quality of the experience that they have. One of the strengths of Rice is the incredible willingness of students to volunteer and help each other out. Students play a significant role in the quality [of the university] - these kinds of opportunities are win-win situations.

RT: How do you see the job of the Dean of Undergraduates?

H: It has multiple roles; there are three very significant aspects [to manage]: one area of priority is to work with the student life professional staff, including academic advising, health and wellness, student activities, etc. The second priority is the residential colleges and perhaps the highest priority is working with the faculty on curriculum and teaching.

RT: Which of these three aspects interests you particularly?

H: I'm interested in all three areas, particularly the third area. I've had a long-standing interest in curriculum, and my work is in research on teaching and learning. I was a master for 12 years, so I'm a strong supporter of the college system and the masters - I'll want to be working closely with them.

RT: How would you deal with a situation which required a potentially controversial decision - for example, the debate concerning the Beer Bike parade this past year?

H: I think the most important aspect with any controversial decision to be made is that as many voices are present in the decision as possible, understanding that sometimes the university simply has to make decisions based on practical, financial or legal considerations.

RT: What do you think the most important skill will be in your new role?

H: Communication: with faculty, professional staff, students, all of my colleagues.

RT: How does Rice differentiate itself from its peer institutions?

H: First, the extensive opportunities for students to be included in scholarly activity or research with a faculty mentor; second, the strength of the college system and the opportunities that it gives students to interact with one another and get to know faculty; third, the fantastic students. I think we provide an environment that makes it easy for students to learn from each other and form strong bonds, and to assist each other.

RT: Having been a master at both Brown College and Wiess College, do you have a favorite college?

H: Moving forward, I'm completely neutral with regard to all 11 colleges. Having been master of both of these, I think I know all of the colleges very well - [besides McMurtry College and Duncan College] I've worked with the leadership in all of them.

RT: What are the unique challenges posed by the creation of McMurtry and Duncan?

H: McMurtry and Duncan are unique opportunities; the founding of the governmental organization and social and cultural identities offer unique opportunities for the student leadership to step forward and exercise their own insights.

RT: What sort of challenges do you foresee any future expansion of the university posing?

H: The challenge will be working with the college masters and the professional staff to use all of the students as a strength of the experience here, but I view it as an opportunity more than as a challenge: With more students we can do more things.

RT: After working at Rice since 1983, what are some of the biggest changes to the university you've observed?

H: There has been a really serious, significant improvement in the quality of the facilities that we provide to our students: the transition to a servery-based system, the new [Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center], the quality of the research laboratories. There have also been really significant improvements in the programming that we provide to our students.

RT: What's the best jack you've seen in your time here?

H: Turning Willy's Statue doesn't have any parallels, but my favorite recent jack was that somebody put Martel [College] on eBay [during Willy Week 2005] - it was really wonderfully done.

RT: What does your current research concern?

H: My scholarly work has to do with teaching and learning in chemistry; I intend to stay engaged in that work with graduate students and colleagues. I'm historically a theoretical chemist, but for the last dozen years I've been doing pedagogical research.

RT: Will you continue teaching after you become Dean of Undergraduates?

H: I intend to keep teaching - [President David Leebron and Provost George McLendon] are both interested in my continuing to teach, and it's an important part of my job: It keeps me in contact with students. Working with and hearing from students has been the joy of my career; I intend to spend as much of my time as I can working with students. In terms of staying in touch, that's one of the elements of the job I love the most.

RT: What hobbies do you have?

H: I play guitar - folk guitar; I've played at Lovett [College], and I sing every now and then on campus. I like to hike in the Colorado Mountains - I spend as much time as possible hiking in the mountains.

RT: Who are your favorite musicians to listen to?

H: Townes Van Zandt and Coloradoan Angie Stevens.

RT: What was your favorite experience as an undergrad at the University of Texas at Austin?

H: Probably going to watch Townes Van Zandt was my favorite part of undergrad - we used to go to Castle Creek [defunct music locale in Austin where Van Zandt regularly performed].

RT: What do you like about living in Houston?

H: I love the restaurants in Houston - [there are] exceptional restaurants of all types. I really love the people of Houston. I think it's a very progressive city.

RT: Former Dean of Undergraduates Robin Forman historically told each incoming class the odds that they will marry one of the other students in the room; what will you tell the incoming class of 2014?

H: The number one thing that I would like us to do as a university is to challenge our students to get out of their comfort zones, whether with international study, outreach work or within the curriculum. I want students to come to Rice with high expectations for themselves - I want us all together to challenge our students to set high expectations and to reach those.

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