The search for the new dean of SF State’s College of Education has officially begun.

A committee was formed last month to find a worthy candidate to fill the shoes of former education dean Jacob Perea, who held the position for almost 14 years. The position was left vacant when Perea was named the first dean of social justice initiatives in October.

Provost John Gemello said that the search for the new dean was a very important process. “Every dean is the academic leader of the college,” Gemello said. “He plays a key role in choosing faculty and personnel and carries the budget responsibility for the college.”

The 10-member committee, composed of eight elected faculty members, one staffer and one appointed student, met for the first time last Thursday. The group is headed by College of Science and Engineering Dean Sheldon Axler.

Among its members are education professors like Jamal Cooks, Debra Luna, Philip Prinz and Beverly Voloshin, said Stephanie Schwartz, Executive Assistant to the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs.

Linnea Beckett, a master’s student in equity and social justice, was also chosen to sit on the committee.

The position description, which was posted on the SF State Web site and on the Chronicle For Higher Education, said that the new dean must be “a person of vision with proven leadership skills” and “should be able to effectively communicate.”

Gemello added that they are looking for someone who is “comfortable working with pressures from different directions, is very flexible, and has good judgment,” especially because he or she will be working with the many different aspects and departments of the college of education.

But college faculty, including Gemello himself, believe that filling Perea’s shoes will be a challenging task.

“Someone who’s going to be dean of [the college of education] will be successful if he has the qualities and shares the passions that made Jake Perea successful, “ Gemello said.

These include Perea’s commitment to diversity and social justice.

“Dean Perea has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to serving the diverse cultural and linguistic communities beyond our campus,” said Josie Arce of the Department of Elementary Education. “He is highly respected by bilingual educators in SF Unified School District and the Latino Mission District.”

Perea said in an earlier interview that he “really cares about the thought of social justice.” When he was first named dean of social justice, he expressed hopes that his successor in the college of education would “be able to incorporate social justice as a part of what they do every day.”

The search is open to educators around the country. The committee will be accepting applications until the end of the year, reviewing them in January and narrowing the search down to four or five people in February. The candidates will then visit the campus to be interviewed by the committee and to meet faculty, staff and students.

Once chosen, the new dean will assume office in August or September 2009.