Interest conflict cited in dean’s resignation

Published by The Gonzaga Bulletin. Second Place, Society of Professional Journalists Education Reporting College Newspapers.

A dispute over what constitutes a conflict of interest caused one of Gonzaga University’s most innovative deans to resign last Thursday.

Dr. Jeanne Wardian, dean of the School of Education said she, “walked on a matter of principle,” when she resigned Feb. 16.

About two years ago, Wardian helped develop an education consulting group called Future Focus while retaining her status at Gonzaga.

Recently the group established a unique master teachers program for Heritage College in Hilo, Hawaii. Founded by Kathleen Ross, Heritage College’s base is located in Toppenish, Wash.

Although Gonzaga does not possess such a program, the Rev. Peter Ely, S.J., academic vice president and acting president, said Wardian’s involvement in it presented a conflict of interest.

“It was a conflict of interest to have a high-level administrator start another educational entity which developed courses for a competitive educational institution,” Ely said. “What it all boiled down to was a difference of opinion.”

Gonzaga’s Faculty Handbook includes section J., passage 309.01: “Limited outside activities in the faculty member’s…areas of specialization are encouraged….” In addition, it specifies the faculty member’s outside activity must not impinge his or her university duties or invest more than one normal working day per week in it.

According to Wardian, she did not violate either provision.

Under section H., 307.05 of the handbook, to direct a faculty member to cease his or her peripheral activity without a violation of the above provisions could be regarded as infringement of academic freedom.

But Ely said the handbook did not entirely apply to Wardian who is both an administrator and tenured faculty member.

No handbook exists for administration, Ely said.

However, Wardian believed the handbook provisions applied.

Her success with the education school’s expansion and the use of her vacation time to teach Future Focus’ program in Hawaii, indicate she did not exceed the limitations of the handbook, confirmed Wardian.

After consultation with members within and outside the Gonzaga community about this issue, Ely asked Wardian to cease her participation in Future Focus based on a conflict of interest between Wardian and the university’s expectations.

“I respect the vice president’s right to make his decision,” Wardian said. “It was up to me to react to that decision; I chose not to quit [Future Focus]. I resigned.”

The dean believes her predicament may spur a solution for possible similar future incidents.

“It is my hope that Gonzaga will look at this issue and reevaluate it for others who may be faced with such decisions in the future,” she said.

Wardian’s wish may soon be granted.

Ely said creating guidelines for administrative behavior and conflict of interest may be examined in the near future.

In a memorandum Feb. 22, Janet Brougher, assistant dean of the School of Education, said, “Despite her resignation, [Wardian] has not resigned from her commitment to quality education.”

Brougher also said in the memo, “Wardian has touched the lives of countless undergraduate and graduate students across the United States and Canada.”

When her resignation becomes effective Aug. 1, Wardian will continue to touch people through private consulting with Future Focus, professional writing, adjunct teaching for several universities and playing with her grandson, Spencer Lloyd Funk, 18-months old.

Her most notable educational contributions include:

• The expansion of seven programs to about 40 over 15 years.
• The development and establishment of a program model for working adults which allows master’s degree programs for educators to be offered in off-campus rural and urban centers in both the U.S. and Canada. More than 2,500 students have graduated from these off-campus programs during her tenure as dean.
• The 1980 establishment of Gonzaga’s only doctoral program which has graduated 69 students, according to the School of Education.
• The establishment of a master of anesthesiology education program in cooperation with Sacred Heart Medical Center, which has graduated more than 50 students.
• The establishment of an off-campus bachelor’s degree program in Native Indian Leadership which currently has 25 students in its second academic year.
• The establishment of a computer technology center (EDUCOMP CENTER).
• The establishment of the Outstanding Teacher Award which honors an outstanding teacher selected through a nomination process from Washington, Northern Idaho and Western Montana.
• The establishment of a Center for Native Indian Leadership which was awarded a major government contract to provide technical assistance to Title V Indian education programs in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.
• The publication of three books: Festival of Song, The Language of Music and Introduction to Music Fundamentals.

She also soloed and toured with Gonzaga Women’s Glee Club. In addition, she is the former president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities Conference on Teacher Education and the Washington Council of Deans and Directors of Education.

Before she was hired as a Gonzaga staff member, Wardian taught in the School of Music at Julliard School, Columbia University and Whitworth College.

Wardian said of her departure: “A lame duck dean I could never be. We have work to do and we’re going to do it.”

Block cover photo by Hayden Walker on Unsplash.