Richard Lorenzen, an associate provost at Northwestern and dean of the School of Continuing Studies, will leave NU in April after two and a half years to write and travel.
The school, which allows professionals to take classes and earn part-time degrees, underwent several changes during Lorenzen’s time at NU. In the summer of 2000, the University College, Summer Session and Division of Continuing Education and Special Programs all merged.
With 1,500 students, the School of Continuing Studies reflects the missions of all three divisions, Lorenzen said.
Educational programs for mid-career professionals and retirees have increased over the last several years at colleges, Lorenzen said.
“Lifelong learning has been growing rapidly over the last several years,” Lorenzen said. “Working people go back to their knowledge base, pursuing new educational opportunities, and this part of the university attempts to relate to those people.”
Linguistics Prof. Gregory Ward, who leads the search committee to find a replacement for Lorenzen, said the new dean should also be aware of challenges in recruiting students because of more opportunities in the Chicago area.
“The qualities we’re looking for would be someone with administrative experience, someone who understands the university culture and the university setting, (and) is sensitive to the marketplace,” Ward said.
Thirty-eight people already have applied for the position of dean from both inside and outside of NU, Ward said. The seven-member search committee will start to meet Feb. 3 and hopes to find a replacement before Lorenzen leaves.
During Lorenzen’s tenure, the school acquired new classroom space in the Loop alongside the Medill Graduate School of Journalism and added professional development programs for professionals seeking advancement and more education.
“To his credit, he has really upgraded the whole stature of the school,” Ward said.
Now that he has had the chance to fulfill those opportunities, Lorenzen and his wife, a development officer for the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, plan to take an early retirement.
“We’re going straight to France for a month and Greece for two,” he said. “We hope we will find a comfortable place to live in Provence, (France).”
Lorenzen, who has studied theater history and dramatic literature, also plans to continue research for a book about a 19th century playhouse in England.
“One never ceases learning,” Lorenzen said. “I know that as an undergrad that sounds terrible, but there’s no end.”
