After 34 years at NC State and 15 years leading what is now the College of Sciences, Daniel Solomon is stepping down from his position as dean of the college, effective July 1.
“It’s time to get out of the way and make room for the next person,” Solomon said.
Solomon joined NC State as head of the Department of Statistics in 1981 and will be leaving the university after having served as the dean of the College of Sciences and a professor of statistics.
More than 50 students from the College of Sciences gathered on Fox Field Monday to say goodbye to Solomon, celebrating his accomplishments at the university with an evening of food and games with the dean.
“He’s small in stature, but he’s got a big personality and a huge heart for the university,” said Jessica Miller, a senior studying mathematics.
Most of the students in attendance know the dean personally through clubs, organizations and classes.
Before working at NC State, Solomon began his career as a faculty member at Cornell University. He was hired by NC State to head of the Statistics Department, holding the position until 1993 before graduating to the position of associate dean for academic affairs.
In 2013, the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences absorbed the Department of Biological Sciences to form what is now known as the College of Sciences at NC State, Solomon was asked to stay at the university as the college’s dean for the first couple of years.
“This has been the plan all along to help with the transition, and then they would do a national search for the next full and permanent dean,” Solomon said,
The college is nearly done conducting its national search for a new dean. The finalists of the search will be visiting NC State within the next few weeks, Solomon said.
When asked what he will miss most about working at NC State, Solomon did not hesitate to say he will miss the time he gets to spend with students.
“One of the joys of being in an academic setting is the continuous renewal of every year. There’s a bunch of new, young, shiny, and in my case, promising scientists,” Solomon said. “And then to see them go out and have successful careers.”
On the other end, Solomon said the only aspect of working at the university he will not miss is what is common at any administrative job.
“The little, people problems are the really hard things that you have to take home with you at night,” Solomon said.
Jamila Simpson, the assistant dean for diversity and human services, has known Solomon since 1995. She attended NC State as a student and had Dean Solomon as a professor; Solomon wrote her a letter of recommendation for graduate school.
“He doesn’t only think of things in terms of the students, but of the faculty so students have role models when they come to NC State,” Simpson said.
Something that stood out to Simpson about Solomon was his “heartbeat for diversity.” Simpson said he was always trying to make the sciences more welcoming to women and under-represented student groups.
“He always smiles and asks students how they are doing,” Simpson said. “He genuinely cares about their well-being.”
