Tenure track positions filled

Yumi Ijiri will be the first female tenure-track physics professor

Fourteen tenure-track positions have been filled with seventy percent of the offers made to top-rated candidates accepted.

"People see Oberlin as a very attractive job, which it is," Koppes said. "One thing they are particuarly warm to is the students."

The incoming group of professors includes nine women. Yumi Ijiri will be the first woman to hold a tenure track position in the Oberlin physics department.

"It's a real tribute to the department," Koppes said.

The newly reconfigured Jewish Studies department selected a specialist in gender issues to fill its position in Jewish history. Shulamit Magnus has been jointly appointed by the Jewish Studies and History departments.

"She's a terrific hire," said Professor of Politics Ron Kahn, member of the Jewish Studies committee.

Magnus has taught at Stanford University since 1991. In 1997, Stanford University Press published her book, "Jewish Emancipation in a German City: Cologne 1798-1871." Magnus will teach a survey course in Jewish history and an upper-level course focusing on women in Jewish history.

Some positions proved harder to fill. The History Department was forced to extend their search for an instructor in Borderlands history after the search's first round produced no viable candidates. Juan Pescador has since been appointed to the position.

Appointing an instructor in invertebrate biology was not much easier. Koppes said, "One of the problems with invertebrate biology is some people are speciailists in marine biology, and we're a little challenged there. Most marine biologists prefer the smell of salt air."

The biology department finally hired Mary Garvin. Koppes said all four candidates were very strong.