Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Michaele Whelan is leaving Brandeis after 12 years to take over as the chief academic officer at Emerson College, a position comparable to that of provost, according to Whelan.

Associate Vice President of University Affairs Dr. John Hose and seven other faculty members will be leaving the University and retiring from academia.

"I've gotten to know all of the faculty really well, and I came in here because the faculty were so extraordinary, and just really talented, dedicated people," said Whelan in an interview with the Justice.

"[Provost] Steve Goldstein ['78] is really a big ideas person, really visionary," said Whelan. "I've had a lot of fun working with him ... and he's built the senior leadership team. It's been great to work with ... all these people because you get a sense of camaraderie and synthesis bringing things together."

Whelan has also taught at least one semester per year, and said that "the students are equally wonderful."

Whelan began her career at Brandeis as associate provost, and was promoted to vice provost. In addition, she has acted as the head of the Rabb School of Continuing Studies.

"When I came that was one degree program, and now we're eight degree programs, and we have an endowment for the Lifelong Learning Program. So, you know, that's a lot of growth for a school that's focused on accessibility and not traditional students," she said.

During her time at the University, Whelan has worked on several "large-scale initiatives," including the reaccreditation for the New England Association for Schools and Colleges, making connections with other schools such as Middlebury College and Al-Quds University, running Brandeis in the Berkshires-an outreach program-and acting as a liaison to the Brandeis National Committee.

Although Whelan said that she is upset about leaving Brandeis, she is excited to have the chance to be a chief academic leader and "set a certain kind of vision."

"Emerson's obviously a really attractive school that got a new president who's very visionary," said Whelan. "They have a new strategic plan, they're going to have a [Los Angeles] campus and focus more on global initiatives, so it's an exciting place to be. And it's liberal arts and arts, which is more my background."

"It is impossible to say how much she's done for Brandeis and how grateful we are," said Goldstein of Whelan at the faculty meeting on May 17.

Hose will be leaving after 30 years of acting "as a close advisor to four of the University's eight presidents," as University President Frederick Lawrence stated in a community message on the University website.

According to Hose, he started at Brandeis on July 1, 1983 as the executive assistant to the then newly-named president Evelyn Handler.

He has been instrumental in the operation of the Office of the President, and provided administrative support for the Board of Trustees for a number of years.

Along with providing administrative work for the Board of Trustees, Hose has also administered the Mortimer Hays-Brandeis Traveling Fellowship, the Joseph B. & Toby Gittler Prize and the Richman Distinguished Fellow in Public Life, according to Lawrence's message.

In addition, he represented Brandeis as the representative to the Board of Governors of a publishing consortium known as the University Press of New England.

Hose has also served as an academic adviser for undergraduates and as a member of the Rhodes, Marshall and Fulbright Committees.

"For many years, John has been the 'Voice of Brandeis' at Commencement and served as a consultant on issues of academic presentation and protocol," wrote Lawrence. "He will always be a cherished member of the Brandeis family."

Hose reflected on his time at Brandeis.

"There have been many memorable moments, but the ones that are most memorable, as well as meaningful, for me personally are the contacts with the many students who have been my formal and informal academic advisees over the last 20 years," wrote Hose in an email to the Justice.

Hose wrote that he has no immediate plans for his retirement.

Prof. Marty Krauss (Heller) retired as of Sept. 1, 2012, but will continue on the board of advisers.

According to Krauss, she had been on the faculty of the Heller School for Social Policy and Management since 1984, and was the John Stein Professor of Disability Policy.  

She was also a faculty member of the Sociology department. Krauss acted as the associate dean of the Heller school prior to becoming provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, a position that she held from 2003 to 2011.

Prof. Adam Jaffe (ECON) is retiring after starting his Brandeis career in 1994.

Jaffe wrote in an email to the Justice that his greatest achievement at the University was acting as the Dean of Arts and Sciences from 2003 to 2011.

"About 40 [percent] of the current [arts and sciences] faculty were either hired or promoted by me.  I helped to shepherd [the arts and sciences] through the difficulties brought on by the financial crisis in 2008," Jaffe wrote.

Jaffe is currently in Wellington, New Zealand, and has taken the position of director of Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.

Prof. Silvia Arrom (HIST) taught Latin American and Latino History for 35 years, 22 of which were at Brandeis.

According to Arrom, she taught at Indiana University and Yale University prior to teaching at Brandeis.

Arrom described one of many memorable moments at the University.

"Perhaps my greatest satisfaction came from directing the Latin American & Latino Studies program for 14 years, and working with my wonderful colleagues, students, and generous donors to build this gem of a program and raise the visibility of Latin America at Brandeis," she wrote in an email to the Justice.

After she retires, Arrom plans to continue doing research, writing and mentoring young scholars of Latin America.

"I also plan to spend more time with my family-including my new grandson-and travelling to places I could never go because of my academic commitments," she wrote.

Among the other retiring faculty members are Prof. Dave Jacobson (ANTH), who was unable to comment by press time; Prof. Ibrahim Sundiata (HIST); Prof. Richard Lansing (COML),who was unable to comment by press time, and Prof. Hiroko Sekino (GRALL).

-Tate Herbert contributed reporting