Monday, 6/30/97 Wortham named chair of English department
FACULTY: New head accepts job, but says he will miss teaching
By Matt Grace Daily Bruin Contributor Thomas Wortham found his
new office – that of the English department chair – with blank
walls and full of dust. "I have to get this framed and sent to the
new office," said Wortham, holding up a poster of Mark Twain. "This
is one of the best pictures." Wortham, a specialist in 19th-century
American literature, will replace Eric Sundquist as English
department chair on July 1, bringing new ideas and new idols. "I
love teaching Mark Twain," explained Wortham with an infectious
enthusiasm, describing one of his literary passions. "When I come
to Mark Twain I can still be an amateur," he said. "I want him to
be an enthusiasm, not a professional concern." "He is the master of
American English," Wortham said. "He understands and forgives
humanity." Wortham’s love and dedication for teaching American
literature has made it difficult for him to make the administrative
jump to department head, he confesses. "I regard my duties as a
teacher even more important than department chair," said Wortham,
who was the vice chair for five years. "The most difficult thing in
deciding to become chair was the continued absence from the
classroom," he said. Wortham explained that he accepted the
position because of his own background in Americanism. With the
loss of Sundquist and other vacancies in the American literature
faculty, Wortham said it was necessary to find equally talented
personnel. Julie Giese, an English lecturer, said Wortham’s
skillful administrative abilities and genuine openness make
everyone around him more comfortable. "You don’t see that many
people so genial and witty," she said. The department chair serves
as mediator between the higher administration as well as the
faculty and the students. "The power rests with the faculty," said
Wortham. The department is concerned with preparing students for
other fields beyond English, according to Wortham. "Almost every
student finds, in his/her work, the need to go through other
disciplines in order to complete education in a particular field,"
he said. Wortham hopes to continue the recruitment of top graduate
students and faculty members by offering better financial
incentives. Although UCLA attracts students by reputation alone,
Wortham plans to explore new options to finance faculty. He also
stressed the importance of graduate instruction. "In order to have
a good undergraduate program, you must have a superb graduate
program," Wortham added. Graduates improve undergraduate education
by assisting the professors and by teaching the students on a more
personal level. He will also would like to create more
undergraduate scholarships to reward deserving students. "I want to
continue the good work that Eric Sundquist has done," Wortham said.
"He is one of the most brilliant and accomplished younger
Americanists in the country," Wortham said. Sundquist, a leading
authority in American literature, will be the Dean of Letters and
Sciences at Northwestern University, leaving behind a position he
will greatly miss. "My years at UCLA have been wonderful in every
respect, and the decision to leave has been the hardest I have had
to make," said Sundquist in a farewell statement. During
Sundquist’s three-year tenure, the department created an English
minor and the American Literature and Cultures major. Both
additions rarely appear at large public universities like UCLA Late
for a plane to go on vacation with his family, Sundquist made one
final stop to Wortham’s new office to say a final farewell. "He is
a dear friend, who I loved working with," Wortham said. But do not
expect Wortham to be chair for long. He looks forward to returning
to his first love, teaching. "Maybe there will be one or two things
I will do better than Professor Sundquist," concluded Wortham with
a hearty grin and quick clap of the hands. "At least I’ll keep the
office less dusty." PATRICK LAM/Daily Bruin Newly appointed English
department Chair Thomas Wortham sits in his office, decorated with
Mark Twain memorabilia. Previous Daily Bruin Story UCLA
professorships still dominated by men, January 19, 1996