Clifford Steps Down as Dean of School of Theology and Ministry

Rev. Richard Clifford, S.J., will step down from his position as dean of the School of Theology and Ministry (STM) at the end of the academic year. However, he will remain on the school's faculty, according to an announcement from the Office of News and Public Affairs.

Clifford was appointed as the founding dean of STM by University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., in 2007, when the school was incorporated into Boston College. The move by BC, which merged the Weston Jesuit School of Theology with the Institute of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry (IREPM) and the Church in the 21st Century (C21) Online program, has resulted in a 23 percent increase in enrollment since August 2008, when the STM was moved to then newly-acquired Brighton Campus.

"It's unusual for two different educational entities to come and work together," Clifford said. "I think we've done very well in beginning that process of running as a single faculty. It gives me confidence that we will continue on that track."

Clifford insisted that the step is by no means a move to retire. He said that he will continue to teach within the STM and will fulfill whatever role is asked of him by his successor in helping the school to advance its strategic plan.

"I'm going back into teaching and research, but I want to be part of this thing," Clifford said. "I was committed to this from the time I heard of it, so I'm happy to see it move ahead no matter who is moving it ahead."

Leahy said that Clifford has demonstrated an afinity to seamlessly lead the STM through its first several years, from the planning stages in 2007 to the school's official opening in August 2008.

"Dick Clifford has been a superb founding dean of our School of Theology and Ministry," Leahy said in a statement. "His years of service as a faculty member, administrator, and colleague have enabled him to have such a wonderful impact, and I am confident he will continue to do so much good as he returns to full-time faculty work."

Clifford said that the first several years of the STM have been about "getting to know each other," and becoming accustomed to working as one entity with one core mission.
"My hope is that in the summer we will turn that personal knowledge into a strategic plan," he said. "The strategic plan is something you can't do from day one – you have to wait until you gel. I think we've gelled."

The faculty members of the STM will all have a say in the selection of the next dean, Clifford said. He hopes that whoever succeeds him will set a good example in teaching and scholarship, continue to build the relationship between the STM and BC, as well as the relationship between the STM and the Archdiocese of Boston, and fulfill both those tasks while incorporating the best practices of both the IREPM and the Weston Jesuit department.

Prior to his term as dean of the STM, Clifford was the acting president of the Weston Jesuit School, where he had taught since 1970. The Weston Jesuit School was previously affiliated with BC from 1959 to 1974, when it then became an independent entity in order to be able to grant its students civil degrees.

Clifford attributed the success of the STM to the support of Leahy and the Provost's Office, among others, as well as the school's faculty for their ability to come around.
"No group of people wants to change that radically," he said. "The faculty members of both the institute and Weston Jesuit discussed the issue, and over the course of the next two or three years came to realize that our joining together – while it meant change – also meant great opportunities for our students."