This summer, when Timothy Barnekov left CHEP for three weeks of vacation in Australia, he had just agreed to become the College's associate dean. While he was away, though, a few things changed.

First, UD Provost Mel Schiavelli took a leave and has since resigned. President David Roselle asked CHEP Dean Dan Rich to serve as acting provost. By the time Barnekov returned to Newark, he was CHEP's acting dean.

"Tim has been an important member of the CHEP leadership team since the College's inception," Rich says. "He has the confidence and respect of his colleagues in CHEP, across the campus and in the community."

Prior to his departure for Australia, Barnekov had been director of CHEP's Center for Community Development and Family Policy since 1993. He joined the UD faculty in 1970 and has served as both acting dean and associate dean of the former College of Urban Affairs and Public Policy, as well as director of the Urban Affairs and Public Policy graduate program in CHEP's School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy.

"The College is in great shape," Barnekov says, "and our community partnerships are thriving. As acting dean, my job is to help keep CHEP moving forward in instruction, research and service--but it was quite a surprise."