By Sarah Carlson, Copy Editor

A job advertisement has been placed in the December issue of the Christian Chronicle, and a search committee has been formed to find a replacement for Dr. Jonathan Wade, assistant professor of English and assistant director of the Honors Program. Wade is leaving at the end of the semester and moving to Cullowhee, N.C., to serve as center fellow at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching.

“Hopefully, we’ll find the right person to hire and have them placed next semester,” said Dr. Nancy Shankle, chair of the Department of English.

Wade’s English classes for the spring were canceled, and a replacement professor was found for his Honors class. Shankle said neither of the English classes Wade was to teach next semester were required for students graduating in May. Stephanie Smith, administrative coordinator for the Honors Program, will take on part of Wade’s duties as assistant director, mainly the advising of upperclassmen, said Dr. Chris Willerton, director of the Honors Program.

“We will not look at getting a new assistant director until and if we become and Honors College,” Willerton said.

He said the person hired will likely teach Honors humanities and might not be an English professor. Willerton said they will be looking for the best possible person to fill Wade’s shoes.

“Replacing talented people is just part of the game,” Willerton said. “It’s just a periodic hardship that every university goes through. We’ve coped pretty well for this short notice. We have time to hunt for good people.”

A farewell reception for Wade will be Friday from 2-3:30 p.m. in Chambers Hall Room 315. Shankle said Wade’s wife and children will attend, and the reception is a chance for students and faculty to say goodbye and thank him for his time spent at ACU.

“We’ll miss him,” Willerton said. “It’s a shame to lose him; on the other hand, it’s a shame to hold back a gifted person.”