After almost a year of career uncertainty, Government and Foreign Affairs Professor James R. Sofka now will add administrative responsibilities to his role at the University. In addition to teaching two courses per semester, Sofka also will serve as dean and director of the Echols Scholar Program and interim director of the College's new interdisciplinary program in political philosophy, policy and law.
"I'm delighted that Jim Sofka will be able to join us in the College," College Dean Edward L. Ayers said. "His dedication to students, his wide-ranging interests, and his remarkable energy will be put to good use as Echols dean and in Garrett Hall."
Effective May 24, Sofka will succeed current Echols Dean Lynn Davis, overseeing about 800 total students in the University honors program. The appointment will be for only one year while officials conduct a nationwide search in compliance with Equal Opportunity Office requirements. Sofka, who is not on a track to receive tenure from the University, said he plans to apply for the permanent position once it is formally posted.
"I could not be happier with this appointment," Sofka said. "My teaching work at the University has been the source of my greatest professional happiness, and I am glad that I will be able to continue to contribute to the mission of the College and University."
As PPPL Director, Sofka will chair and oversee the new program, which hopes to admit its first students in the spring of 2004. The PPPL program aims to connect the studies of political philosophy and legal theory, legal thought and historical change, as well as law and public policy.
Sofka's near departure came as a surprise to many of his students because he had consistently received the highest student evaluation scores in his department (he averaged 4.931 out of 5 last spring) and because government classes recently have swelled beyond capacity while the number of teachers in the department has remained relatively constant.
After an article appeared last spring in The Cavalier Daily, students and alumni bombarded top University officials with a massive letter-writing effort, urging administrators to keep Sofka on staff.
"On a personal note, I would like to thank all of the students, colleagues, parents, alums and administrators who sent kind notes for their support during a trying year," Sofka said. "I am still uncertain as to how the problems regarding my appointment reported by The Cavalier Daily last spring emerged, but I'm eager to put the past behind me and move forward with the challenging and exciting work"
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