Spring Break
Pohl picks new faculty assistant
Melissa Boughton
Intern
Thomas Evenson, associate dean of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service, accepted an appointment as faculty executive assistant in President Norval Pohl's office. Herman Totten, dean of the Library and Information Sciences, left the position and Evenson is stepping in.
"I'm excited about it, it's totally different, I don't think anybody really prepares for a job like this," Evenson said. "What I am most looking forward to is working with Dr. Pohl."
Evenson's new position includes investigating the student concerns reported to the president, submitting the results of the investigations to the president, writing and reviewing correspondence and staff papers and representing the president at various functions. Evenson starts the new position today.
"It [the position] generally goes to individuals that might have an interest in seeing what administration is all about," Pohl said.
The position rotates among faculty members and they serve for an indeterminate number of years, Pohl said. No one sees it as a career, which is why it is a temporary assignment. Totten was chosen to be the new dean of the Library and Information Sciences.
"I think that Evenson has a background and a personality that really match with what this job means," Pohl said. "It is important to have a person who has been here a long time and really knows how the university works."
Evenson has worked at NT for 25 years and has been in his current position since 1999. Pohl called Evenson and met with him to see if he would be interested in the position.
"The benefit, to me, is the opportunity to do some things that I've never done and to interact with people that I don't normally interact with," Evenson said.
Evenson has been an associate professor in the Department of Rehabilitation, Social Work and Addictions and former chair of the department. His teaching and research interests include rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation services, community rehabilitation programs and continuing education.
"It's hard to leave this job because I am working with another good person," Evenson said. "It's kind of bittersweet leaving and scary when you move to a different job."
