A national search will soon be underway for a new chair of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication.

John Eighmey, current department chair, decided to step down from his position following his annual review.

“Eighmey and I agreed during his annual review in June, that given the current situation in the Greenlee school, the best option is to do a national search for a new chair,” said Peter Rabideau, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

In May, then-Provost Rollin Richmond, suspended Eighmey and Associate Chair Joel Geske from their leadership positions in the school. Rabideau, as well as a five-person committee, was asked to look into the situation in the Greenlee School, and reinstate the pair until conclusions could be made.

Eighmey and Geske were not available for comment.

Geske will remain in his position as associate chair.

“In my discussions with the faculty, most everyone agrees that Joel Geske has done a very good job in contributing to the Greenlee school,” Rabideau said.

Rabideau issued a letter to the Greenlee school faculty announcing the change and also stating that Eighmey will remain in his position until a replacement can be found.

“There certainly has been some conflict between the chair and some of the faculty,” Rabideau said. “However, these issues have been around for more than the last two months. Over the last year, I have been looking into most of these issues.”

Eighmey has been the department chair for six years.

“He has done some excellent things and provided some good leadership,” Rabideau said.

He said that while Eighmey has been a good leader, he no longer has the following the job entails.

“I believe that new leadership is needed for the school to move ahead,” said Cindy Christen, part of a five-member committee assembled to look into problems at the school. “We look forward to putting problems behind us and moving ahead.”

Rabideau said he has been meeting with school faculty.

“Since May 15, I have met individually with every faculty member in the Greenlee School, I have met with different groups and committees and with John Eighmey and Joel Geske,” he said.

Rabideau plans to begin the search for a new chair in late August or September and will put together a committee to do this. Eighmey will remain as chair of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication until a new chair is found.

“It is my opinion that the situation in Greenlee is not one of overt racism, but rather that incivility and insensitivity by some faculty members has created a negative environment for minority faculty members,” Rabideau said in the letter to the faculty. “In my examination of these issues [of racism]. no one suggested that kind of conduct on the part of John or Joel.”

Christen said the five-person committee will remain intact and continue with its three tasks.

“These are revising the promotions and tenure process, revise the process by which DEO is evaluated and also to arrange for a facilitator to come in and work with faculty,” she said.