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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 1984)
Former educator at ease with administrative role By Michael Kuiaga Of the Emerald What is a former director of Harvard's Center for Moral Education, author of six books on education, and Olympic rowing coach doing coor dinating academic-research ac tivities at the University of Oregon? At first glance, Dick Hersh, University vice president for research, seems out of place directing a university’s research efforts. His education is in the liberal arts. With a bachelor's degree in political science and history and a master's degree in social science and education from Syracuse University, and a doc torate in curriculum and in struction from Boston Universi ty, he seems a long way from home both geographically and academically. But as Hersh explains, his ex perience as an educator and a department administrator has prepared him well for Universi ty administration. Hersh's aiea of expertise is education. Specifically “it is concerned with how people learn a sense of marality,” he says. “The research I’ve done in that area and the writing I’ve done on that is really an attempt to explain how schools impact moral development.’’ In his more recent work he has explored why some schools are more effective than others in teaching students. “So all the way through, my whole scholarship has been the con cern for improving schools and improving teaching and learn ing.” he says. His transition from educator to administrator was not as abrupt as it may apppear. From 1968 until 1974 Hersh served first as a professor in, and later as chairman of, secondary education at the University of Toledo. “That is where I really grew up in terms of going from an assistant to a full professor, going from a faculty member to an administrator," he says. In 1974, after spending a sab batical doing research at Har vard University, he was hired to direct the Center for Moral Education. Hersh spent 1975 shuttling between Cambridge and Toron to, where he directed the University of Toronto’s Moral Education Project, “directing two staffs, having two apart ments, having two programs, and teaching in both places." He moved to Eugene in 1976 where he assumed the position of associate dean of teacher Dick Hersh education at the University. And in 1980 he was appointed dean of the Graduate School and associate provost for research. The latter title was upgraded to vice president and made a separate position in February. Hersh, 42, says his present job is different only in degree from the other positions he has held over the last 15 years. “As an associate dean for teacher education I was concerned with: How do you develop a better program? How do you develop excellence? How do you help faculty to do things they ought to be doing? How do you make sure students are be ing offered a much more rigorous and engaging pro gram? “All those questions are ques tions that can get answered at the micro level or the macro level. The difference is one of degree not kind,” he says. As vice president for research, Hersh is responsible for overseeing faculty and graduate student research pro posals, grants and contracts. He also encourages faculty to pur sue new areas of research at the University and acts as a liaison between the University and government, industry and pro fessional organizations. In the last year, he has con centrated on such projects as the Advanced Science and Technology Institute, a cooperative effort with Oregon State University and industry to promote research and economic development in Eugene and Corvallis; the riverside park proposal that would turn vacant land along the Willamette River into a high-tech industrial park; and increased funding for, and participation in, the humanities. These projects are consistent with his belief that a university should blend the arts and humanities with the sciences and professions to promote the opportunity for a well-rounded education. They also underlie his belief that a University must Continued on Page 23 shortcut/ SECOND NATURE BICYCLES Buy • Sell • Trade • Expert Repairs • Custom Buildups • Free Appraisals • Frame Repair NISHIKI • CYCLE PRO SEKAI DEALER Full line Mountain bike/Cruiser RECONDITIONED BIKES OUR SPECIALITY 446 E. 13th. Eugene 343-5362 Next to the Bijou Theatre Try a new direction in school this year — teach a class through SEARCH. We encourage experimental and innovative subject matter and teaching techniques. Anyone can teach — undergraduates, graduates, faculty and community members — if they have talent and experience to share. Students can earn credit by teaching, and it looks great on a resume. Interested'.' Winter Term deadlines are approaching soon, so call SEARCH today at 686-4J05 UO STUDENTS You Have Never Been So Lucky! Now you can save HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS bv using this term's THE ampus oupon tipper Keep an eye out for it on the Emerald news stands September KEEP IT ALL TERM... USE IT ALL TERM... SAVE $ ALL TERM! lor more information tii spa< v r» sei vution 686-3712