Dr. Jonathan Reed, Professor of Religion at La Verne since 1993, emerged from a pool of 55 candidates as the university's new Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.

All About Teaching

• by Mark Vidal
• April 17, 2012

They say time flies when you’re having fun.  For Dr. Jonathan L. Reed, time flies when you’re talented and busy.

As interim dean of the University of La Verne College of Arts and Sciences for most of the past three years, Reed has demonstrated that it is possible to be both an effective leader of a college and an active scholar.

Whether it is working late nights on grant proposals or presenting lectures on biblical archaeology, his dedication to making La Verne an exceptional institution of higher education is recognized by the entire community.

Therefore it came as no surprise to many when he was named the official, permanent dean of the College of Arts & Sciences in March.

Reed, who was professor of religion for 16 years prior to being named interim dean, was selected for the permanent position from a group of 55 candidates.

“I’m both honored and humbled to have been selected,” Reed said.

He has much to accomplish and his focus is clear. Over the next few months Reed will continue to work with key faculty leaders to ensure and create a “meaningful and integrated freshman experience” for all incoming students — the First Year La Verne Experience.

“My top priorities are the faculty, the faculty, and the faculty,” Reed said.  “To be a thoroughly student-focused college, we must have competent and motivated faculty who bear to primary responsibility in ensuring student success, elevating academic quality, and enhancing diversity.  My job is to support them.”

Reed has been with the University of La Verne since 1993. He knows where it’s been and where it’s going.

His background as a faculty member and representative to the University of La Verne Board of Trustees has equipped him to be an effective collaborator with university constituents. With these university leaders he plans to work toward shaping a university poised to meet the needs of the future.

“I share the University’s commitment to continuing broad educational access while ensuring success. I would like to see us become the nationally recognized, private, comprehensive University that is an Hispanic-serving institution,” said Reed.

The university’s current demographics are 38 percent Hispanic, about 9 percent African American and nearly 7 percent Asian, which Reed says mirrors the demographics of California.

“This is where the rest of the nation will be in 2040,” he said. “If we can succeed here, we can become a role model in national higher education.”

It takes an accomplished leader to mold future leaders. He is a recipient of the Excellence in Faculty Teaching Award, the Ellsworth Johnson Service Award and is a founding member of The Academy at La Verne.

Reed has also written many articles and reviews, and has authored several books, such as “In Search of Paul”, “Excavating Jesus” and “Archaeology and the Galilean Jesus.”

Reed thanks his family, friends and the entire University of La Verne community for all their support throughout the search for the dean position.

“I especially need to thank my executive assistant Denise Shiokari and Associate Dean Felicia Beardsley for all their hard work.”

Following Reed’s appointment as dean, he announced Beardsley as the associate dean of the college of arts and sciences. Beardsley has served in the interim capacity, like Reed, since June 2009.

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