Message from the Dean, June 2013

Carole Haber, Tulane University

A fair farewell to graduating students and retiring professors

With the close of another school year, we celebrated the accomplishments of our graduating students as they now venture beyond the walls of the university. In many ways, of course, they have never stayed confined to Tulane. They have been involved in study abroad, service learning, and research activities that have often taken them not only into New Orleans, but to foreign lands. They have obtained skills that will serve them well for the next step in their lives, whether it will be the start of new careers or additional education. And while we say goodbye, we hope that they will retain their ties to Tulane and the School of Liberal Arts.

We also say goodbye to four outstanding faculty members who have chosen to retire in this academic year: John Baron, Daniel Healan, Richard Latner, and Joe Poe. Among them, they have amassed more than a century and a half of service to Tulane. Each, in his own way, has left an impact on his profession, the faculty, and scores of students who have always sung their praises.

John Baron joined the department of music in 1969, becoming an associate professor in 1973 and a full professor in 1983. In 1993 he was named the Schawe Professor and chair of the department, a leadership position he held for nine years. He has written eight books on chamber music, baroque music, Jewish music and culture and concert music in 19th- century New Orleans. He has published numerous articles and been invited often as a keynote speaker. He leaves generations of grateful students whose lives he has changed.

Dan Healan came to Tulane as a visiting assistant professor in anthropology in 1973-1974. After serving a short while at Baylor University, he returned to Tulane in 1977 and was promoted to an associate professor in 1984 and a full professor in 1996. A world-recognized archaeologist of Mexico, he has published four books and more than forty articles, research reports, and reviews. He has overseen numerous Ph.D. dissertations and received multiple awards from the National Science Foundation. As a project director or field supervisor, he has worked extensively in Hidalgo, Ottumba, and Michaecan, Mexico.

Richard Latner came to Tulane as an assistant professor of history in 1974. He became an associate professor in 1978 and a full professor in 1995. In the course of his career, he served not only as associate chair and chair of the department but also took on the role of director of American Studies. Along with his more than twenty articles and reviews and a book on Andrew Jackson, he developed innovative web projects on the Salem witch trials and on the crisis at Fort Sumter. One individual wrote of Prof. Latner, “he was clearly ahead of his time!”

Joe Poe began at Tulane in 1965 as an assistant professor of Classical Languages, becoming an associate professor in 1970 and a full professor in 1989. He was department chair three times, for a total of sixteen years. He has written four books, and nineteen articles and reviews. His list of professional and university service fills two pages, as he has selflessly dedicated himself to the life of the university and the academic vitality of his discipline.

We will miss them all and wish them all the best in the future.

We will also miss our loyal readers as the School of Liberal Arts newsletter goes on its short summer break. In the meantime, we would like to thank everyone who has followed the exciting occurrences at the school and has contributed stories and updates. We also extend our deepest gratitude to all those who have made a financial gift to the school or are planning to do so. We hope you know that much of what you read about in the newsletter could not have occurred without your generosity. Through your support, we have been able to fund the fascinating research of our faculty and students, provide educational opportunities beyond the classroom, bring outstanding speakers and conferences to campus, and develop service learning programming that can be found at no other university. We thank you for making all this possible and hope you share our pride in the School of Liberal Arts and Tulane University.

Until we reconnect in the fall, may you all have a wonderful summer!