Pearman adjusting to role as administrator

Si Pearman is a Furman alumnus. He's a faculty member, former department head and member of Quaternion.

It may sound cliché, but his blood runneth purple. So it's easy to understand why Pearman is adapting easily to his new position as assistant academic dean.

"This position is involved with, and responsible for, activities that are at the heart and soul of what we do here at Furman," says Pearman, a health and exercise science professor, "which is teaching and working with students and programs that affect the academic community. That part fit me really well, so I was really excited to have that opportunity."

Pearman's new responsibilities include serving on the CLP Committee, which reviews all proposed cultural events.

"Day-to-day my office coordinates all the student workers who staff the events," says Pearman. "There are usually 250 events each year, and my job is making sure that after the events are approved, they're publicized and staffed with students."

In addition, he oversees the Individualized Curriculum Program, the Academic Advising Program and the Spring Awards Dinner. Pearman graduated from Furman in 1987 and is a member of Quaternion, a highly selective honor society that prides itself on its devotion and loyalty to alma mater. Just a handful of Furman men are inducted into Quaternion each year.

Pearman received his master's and doctoral degrees from the University of North Carolina and the University of South Carolina, respectively, before returning to Furman. In 1999, he received the Alester G. Furman, Jr., and Janie Earle Furman Award for Meritorious Advising.

"I still have my advisees," says Pearman, "and what I now do is coordinate the entire Academic Advising Program for freshmen. Next to teaching, advising is probably the most important thing we do here. Advising is something I've always enjoyed doing and do well, so being able to pull that together for the university is a good thing."

While still getting settled in his new job, Pearman says that his goals are to make sure all of the programs he oversees work, and to know that his office is doing the best possible job that it can.

"Administering and running those programs are my first goal, and getting those up to my standards," Pearman says. "For example, we had some glitches with registration for the fall which I'm in the process of trying to smooth out for next year when freshmen come in."

An added bonus, according to Pearman, is the wide scope of his new position.

"One of the most positive changes is the multiple contacts associated with all of the programs. I get to work with a lot of faculty throughout the university, and I get to meet a lot more students in areas beyond the HES department."

Two years ago, when the position was created, Linda Bartlett was appointed. She is now associate academic dean.

Pearman says, "There is the sense that some of what we're doing I'm fine-tuning, trying to add to, and so forth. So I anticipate that it's not a stagnant office, in the sense that advising is a dynamic process that changes from year to year. I'm sure there are going to be some new projects I'll be working on, once I can get my hands, or arms, around all of these."

Surveying his surroundings, Pearman laughingly says, "The biggest change for me has been moving out of the Physical Activities Center, where my office was for 11 years. Moving into Furman Hall, and wearing a tie every day, are probably the two biggest adjustments. I could get away with shorts and a T-shirt in the PAC, but I don't feel comfortable walking through Furman Hall dressed like that."

- Aynoka Bender .