New dean opens up, life and hobbies
Andrew Kersten, the new dean of University of Idaho’s College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, admits he’s a bit of a nerd.
“In my free time I love to spend time with my family and we do all sorts of nerdy things,” he said. “We like to go to movies, and particularly we like Marvel superhero movies, and we like to watch things like ‘Star Wars: Clone Wars’ the cartoon.”
Dean Andrew Kersten
Following a national search, UI appointed Kersten to the dean position last December and he began the role last June. Kersten succeeds interim dean John Mihelich, who was appointed after former dean, Katherine Aiken, was selected to serve as interim provost in 2013.
Before moving to Moscow, Kersten was the associate provost and associate vice chancellor of academic affairs for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Kersten said one of the most memorable feats of his tenure was writing a biography of a famous defense lawyer, Clarence Darrow. Upon completion of the work, Kersten said he began to think about changing his career path, and soon became aware of the dean position at UI.
“Quite quickly I’ve become a Vandal,” he said. “I’m a little bit shocked. I’ve never had that before. I’m very much enamored by the culture here. I’m very proud to be a participant.”
Kersten said the experience he gained at UWGB allowed him to look at academic problems from multiple points of view.
He said a lot of his goals for his new position at UI are in line with President Chuck Staben’s — to increase enrollment, better the learning environment and improving investments toward creative work.
More than anything, Kersten said he wants to increase the quality of communication between faculty and students — particularly through social media.
“Students today I don’t think are the email generation, I think that was my generation,” he said. “So we need to begin to reach students where they are, using Twitter or Facebook, Instagram — making sure our messaging is out there so students can do things in real time and don’t get tripped up on advising.”
Kersten said his largest hurdle is learning about UI’s current issues and, on the same vein, preparing for the future while living in the present.
Outside of work, Kersten said he spends most of his time with his family doing “nerdy” things, like watching superhero movies and visiting national parks. Kersten also plays bluegrass music on the banjo, and makes model airplanes and railroads in his free time.
Kersten said a value he practices on a day-to-day basis is making sure everyone around him feels supported. He said he believes people should try and support each other, because it fosters an environment of friendship and healthy relationships among peers.
Kersten said one of his goals at UI is to help the students discover their future career aspirations, as well as find enjoyable pastimes during the college years.
“I find young people today terribly driven,” he said. “Driven to a point where sometimes I wonder where they find time to be themselves, to enjoy life, to learn something new. I think part of our job, in the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, is to help students realize those vocations.”
Erin Bamer can be reached at [email protected]