The second of four candidates for dean of the College of Educational and Professional studies said Tuesday “deans get nothing done by themselves” while stressing the importance of faculty input.

David England, dean of the College of Education at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, discussed his role as dean during an open session interview on Tuesday. Another open session meeting will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday in room 1501 of Buzzard Hall.

“Pride is a dangerous thing,” England replied when asked to comment on achievements at Western Michigan which he was the most proud of.

“I don’t think deans do much of anything alone,” he said.

If deans are not active listeners to faculty concern, “it can be very easy for a dean to lose his way,” England said. He added, “I think public celebration and acknowledgment is very important and very positive.”

At Western Michigan, England wrote in the university’s newsletter to “share with the faculty something I’ve been thinking about or something I’ve noticed. Not just to criticize but to keep contact.”

England also said he would be “looking for ways to create a positive environment to work in.”

“We’ve made it more civil and more collaborative (at Western Michigan),” he said.

One way England accomplished that was through recruitment.

“We have recruited excellent faculty and increased faculty diversity,” he said.

England said he would like to create more opportunities for faculty research by finding external funding.

He said he is also very interested in developing a master’s degree program for students in the teacher preparation program.

Looking forward to possibly replacing a dean, Elizabeth Hitch, the current dean of the College of Educational and Professional Studies, England said his first priority would be “not to screw up anything that is already working well.

“Dean Hitch has worked well with local schools and has done a good job of bringing together two colleges” that were formed together to create the College of Educational and Professional Studies, he said.

England said he hoped to continue to build ties between the colleges on Eastern’s campus as well as relationships with local schools and the community.

Two other candidates will interview for the position. Charles Rohn, associate professor of educational administration at Eastern, will interview on April 22 and 23. Jo-Anne Evans Coleman, vice president for academic and student affairs at Northwestern Health Services University in Bloomington, Minn., visits campus on April 24 and 25.