As we pause in this issue of CMC to examine our very fine economics department, we are reminded yet again of the inextricable links that bind excellent results of our students with the excellence of their teachers. You will read again of revered names from the College's earliest days: Jacob Anton de Haas, an international relations leader from the Harvard Graduate School of Business; Walter Buckingham Smith, from Williams College; Arthur Kemp, an advisor to President Herbert Hoover; and Orme Wheelock Phelps, a rising star in labor economics from the University of Chicago. Already extraordinary leaders in their fields, their passion for teaching—and perhaps a taste for measured adventure—drew them to this nascent enterprise, launched under the guidance of Founding President George C.S. Benson.

Six decades later, a new generation of teacher-scholars continues to ensure CMC is a place not only of teaching, but also of scholarship as a defining characteristic of our faculty. Three of the nation's top 20 liberal arts professors for publishing in select refereed economics journals are members of our faculty: Harold Mulherin, the Don and Lorraine Freeberg Professor of Economics, in first place; Greg Hess, the Russell S. Bock Chair of Public Economics, in third place; and Richard Burdekin, the Jonathan B. Lovelace Professor of Economics and department chair, 15th in the nation.

Similarly impressive results are found across the College's other academic departments, and we will continue to share with you their important and timely work in future issues of CMC. I am pleased as well to announce the appointment of Jerome Garris to a three-year term as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty. His appointment follows a seven-month search process after the announcement last spring of William Ascher's decision to resign his position as vice president and dean of the faculty. Dr. Garris and Dean Ascher will work closely over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition, effective July 1.

Dean Ascher plans to return to CMC as a member of the government faculty in 2006 following sabbatical in the coming academic year, and I am grateful for his continued dedicated service to the College.

Dr. Garris received his Ph.D. in government from UCLA and joined the College as an assistant professor of political science in 1974, and many CMC readers know him from his service as CMC vice president and dean of students from 1977 to 1984. He served as dean of the college of Randolph-Macon College in Virginia from 1984 to 1990; as provost from 1990 to 1998; and as acting president twice, in 1990 and 1992. He returned to CMC in 1999, and currently serves as associate vice president of research and institutes, and director of foundation and corporate relations. He is a member of the CMC senior staff and a senior lecturer in government.

The Board of Trustees and I are pleased that Dr. Garris has agreed to serve the College in yet another important capacity, and his new role will be spotlighted in future issues of CMC.

I hope you will take a moment to reflect on the excellence of our academic leadership and teacher-scholars, whose passion for teaching is at the core of a fine education that is not about memorizing facts, but rather the business of actively seeking learning, and encouraging curiosity, over the arc of a lifetime.

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Pamela B. Gann, President