Rev. Hugh R. Page Jr., Walter Associate Professor of Theology, has been appointed dean of Notre Dames First Year of Studies (FYS), according to the Universitys provost, Nathan O. Hatch.
Over the last 12 years, Hugh Page has distinguished himself as a teacher, scholar, administrator, counselor, colleague and friend,Hatch said.His rich experience and exemplary performance ideally suit him for this crucial position.
Page succeeds Eileen Kolman, who has served as dean of FYS since 1990.
Since its establishment in 1962, the FYS has provided Notre Dame students with the foundation for a liberal education. Regardless of their intended program of study, all first-year students must enroll in the FYS, which enables them to study broadly in the arts and sciences and to consider various possibilities before deciding upon a college or major. In addition to advising students on course selection, FYS staff members use a variety of support services to ease the transition from high school to university life.
FYS is largely responsible for Notre Dames 98 percent student retention rate from the freshman to sophomore years, and it contributes to the Universitys 95 percent graduation rate, a standard exceeded only by Harvard, Princeton andYaleUniversities.
Page, who joined the Notre Dame faculty in 1992, is also associate dean and director of undergraduate studies in theCollegeofArtsand Letters and director of the African and African-American Studies Program.
A graduate ofHamptonUniversity, Page holds theological degrees from General Theological Seminary inNew Yorkand masters and doctoral degrees in Near Eastern languages and civilizations fromHarvardUniversity.He has taught classes in biblical studies, Near Eastern languages, ancient myth and theology.His scholarly specialties include early Hebrew poetry, the cultural content of ancient epic, theories of myth, African-American biblical interpretation, poetry as a medium for theological expression, the use of religious traditions and sacred texts in the construction of individual and corporate identity in the Black community, and the role of mysticism and esoterism in African-American, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Canadian spirituality. He is author or editor of several books, includingExploring New Paradigms in Biblical and Cognate StudiesandThe Myth of Cosmic Rebellion: A Study of its Reflexes in Ugaritic and Biblical Literature.
An Episcopal priest, Page is also a poet, musician, photographer, and martial artist.He also serves as volunteer assistant coach for Notre Dame’s men’s varsity tennis team.
* Contact: * _Hugh R. Page at 574-631-4573 or Page.6@nd.edu _
TopicID: 9547