Istentonan
vol. XXXI, issue 1
the north Carolina school of science and mathematics
august 2010
stentorian@ncssm.edu
Who will be the new head unicorn?
By Rebecca Hong
As the classes of 2011
and 2012 begin this school
year, the NCSSM community
also welcomes a few other
people into the school - new
chancellors. Last year marked
the last term for Gerald
Boarman, former chancellor
of NCSSM. So, who will head
the school this year?
At the time of printing,
Boarman’s permanent succes
sor had not been announced,
though it is thought that the
new Chancellor will be an
nounced at the Board of Gov
ernors meeting on Friday,
August 13. Until the new per
manent Chancellor takes of
fice, NCSSM will have an in
terim: Thomas Williams.
Williams, who was
handpicked by UNC President
Erskine Bowles to act as
interim chancellor, has had
extensive experience in
the North Carolina public
education system. He has acted
as superintendent of Granville
County and Johnston Public
schools, and has served on the
NCSSM Educational Advisory
Council. Williams’ term will
begin August 17, the beginning
of first trimester classes. Until
then^ UNC Vice President
and General Counsel Laura
Bernstein Luger is serving as
the interim chancellor.
Some may wonder how-ex
actly the permanent chancel
lor was chosen. The Chan
cellor Search Committee, a
twenty-one-person group, was
formed by the*NCSSM Board
of Trustees in Februaiy in or
der to complete this
task. The Commit
tee’s members rep
resent students, fac
ulty, alumni, parents,
NCSSM’s founda
tion, the education
advisory committee,
the administration,
the community, and
the NCSSM Board of
Trustees.
The Committee
worked hard to find
a person with the
right characteristics
to lead the school.
Last school year, students had
the opportunity to suggest
qualifications necessary to
become the new chancellor.
Some of these suggestions
made the list. *
Shirley Frye, Chair of
the Board of Trustees, said
that among other things the
Committee was looking for
“a leader who could take the
NCSSM community to the
next level, someone who
would want to grow the school,
a person with people skills, a
Nominate
a Candidate
person with experience,
[and] -a^person whom
students and faculty
will respect.”
Frye predicted that
the new chancellor
make take some
time before taking
office, “We expect the
permanent chancellor
to be selected within
[August], but [he or
she] will need time to
close out or complete
some responsibilities
where [he or she] is,
presently.”
The Committee
selected three poten- Interim ChancellorThomas Williams
tial candidates, one retiredfrom the NCpublic schools after
of which Bpwles ^Qr^ than three decades as a classroom
teacher, principal, and superintendent.
From http://www.northcarolina.edu/news
The Search Commitee s website allowed
interested citizens to nominate people
they felt woidd make a good Chancellor.
From http://www.ncssm.edu/chancellor-
search/committee.php
nominates for the
UNC Board of Gov
ernors to consider.
The Board of Gover
nors ultimately decides on the
choice of the new chancellor.
As for worries that the
change between three different
chancellors may cause confu
sion at school, Frye believes
they^ are unnecessary. She
stated, “The three persons that
were nominated and sent to
President Bowles each exem
plified the above qualifications
and characteristics and are
great leaders that will be able
to make an excellent transition
into their new position.”
NCSSM welcomes new faculty and staff
By Seon Kang
In order to fill the positions
vacated after the last academie
school year, NCSSM has
recently hired several new staff
and faculty members.
The school has hired
Michael DeHaven and Dave
Thaden, both humanities
instructors; Ryan Donaldson,
our new class attendance and
Textbook Manager; Douglas
Marks, a mathematics
instructor; Bill McNairy, a
physics instructor; and Patrick
Rainey and Monique Williams,
both chemistry instructors.
and American Studies.
Douglas Marks received
both a B.S. in Mathematics,
summa cum laude, and an
M.S. ill Applied Mathematics
from North Carolina State
University. He is an N.C. native
that has known and worked
with many NCSSM alumni in
the past. Marks says he looks
forward to working with the
talented students and faculty
ofNCSSM.
my knowledge and experience
in both interdisciplinary
scientific research endeavors as
well as academic, government,
and private sector research
then, she has earned a B.S. in
Chemistry and Biotechnology
from NC State and eventually
earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry
from the University of Florida.
Dr. Williams looks forward
to teaching at her high school
and to sharing her enthusiasm
for chemistry by teaching the
AP Chemistry course.
Ryan Donaldson is filling the
position of Class Attendance
and Textbook Coordinator.
Donaldson graduated from
SUNY at Canton with an
Associate of Applied Science
teaching Physics and Physics
Michael DeHaven
photo courtesy of Rick Hess
Michael DeHaven has de
grees from several universities
in the state of Illinois and has
also done graduate work at Co
lumbia University. He comes
to NCSSM from the Illinois
Mathematics and Science
Academy, where he taught
for 17 years. DeHaven has re
ceived many teaching awards
throughout his career and will
be teaching Economics, Asia,
Douglas Marks
photo courtesy of Rick Hess
Patrick’ Rainey earned his
PhD in Chemistry with an
emphasis on organometallic
catalysis from Texas A&M
University in 2000. Since
then Rainey has worked with
countless research groups.
Vector Research in RTP, for
whom he served as Research
Director.
Rainey’s personal hobbies
include sports, training in
karate (he has coached the U.S.
national Junior Olympic Karate
team), and spending time with
family and friends. Rainey
says, “I am excited to share
Patrick Rainey
photo courtesy of Rick Hess
involvements with the students
and future leaders ofNCSSM.”
Rainey will be teaching
Advanced AP Chemistry and
Organic chemistry.
Monique Williams is an
alumna ofNCSSM, a graduate
of the class of 19^8. Since
Monique Williams
photo courtesy of Rick Hess
Ryan Donaldson
photo courtesy of Rick Hess
in Computer Information
Systems degree.
Bill McNairy is coming to
NCSSM with previous teaching
experience in the NCSSM
Distance Education and
Extended Programs Division.
He has earned his Ph.D. in
Experimental Solid State
Physics- from .the University
of Virginia and has taught at
major universities including
NC State, UNC Chapel Hill,
and Duke. McNairy will be
William (Bill) McNairy
photo courtesy of Rick Hess
with Advanced Topics this
year.
Dave . Thaden comes to
NCSSM after his fifteen years
as Principal of East Chapel
Hill High School. Thaden
received a B.A. in English
with a minor in History from
the University of Michigan
and has also received an M.A.
in English. Thaden will be
teaching American Studies and
possibly some other humanities
courses.
David Thaden
photo courtesy of Rick Hess