Commending and Honoring Paul Sherwin, Dean, College of Liberal and Creative Arts

Senator Paul Sherwin served with honor and distinction as a member of the San Francisco State University Academic Senate for four appointed terms from 2008 through 2012, including his important participation on the Academic Policies Committee and other standing committees; and

Dean Sherwin played an integral role in major University-wide innovations, including SF State’s highly-commended Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement and its new General Education curriculum; and

Dean Sherwin has expertly guided his College with passion and vision for twelve years through many changes - - including the transition from the College of Humanities to the much-expanded College of Liberal and Creative Arts, but also including floods and other natural and unnatural catastrophes; and

Dean Sherwin has supervised the hiring of over 100 faculty in his College since his arrival at San Francisco State, including faculty who have proceeded to win MacArthur Fellowships, Guggenheim Fellowships, NEH Fellowships, and a host of other national awards and honors; and

Dean Sherwin has bolstered the prestige of his College and the University by establishing five of the six endowed chairs in the College of Liberal and Creative Arts, helping to found the Language Flagship Program, and leading many other innovative efforts; and

Dean Sherwin has fortified the academic lives of students and faculty by adeptly marshaling and managing the resources of the College; and

Even as he accepted responsibility for stewarding new, additional departments, programs, and faculty, Dean Sherwin always nurtured a healthy and supportive academic community by leading with decorum, kindness, generosity, and forgiveness; and