Rosina Bierbaum, the newly appointed dean of the School of Natural Resources and the Environment, plans to make the integration of SNRE into the College of Literature, Science and the Arts her top priority.

"The environmental problems that have emerged since I have been in Washington have become more complex and more interconnected," Bierbaum said yesterday. "It really does require you to have a lot of understanding of the science, policy, political and economic implications."

Bierbaum has been in Washington for the past 20 years and has most recently worked for the Clinton administration in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment.

But Bierbaum said she has always planned on a career in academia.

"I intended to really be a laboratory scientist for the rest of my life and be in a laboratory setting," Bierbaum said. "One of my mentors essentially embarrassed me into applying for one of these congressional fellowships. I applied for this and really hoped I wouldn"t get it."

Once in Washington, Bierbaum said she realized the need for the active involvement of scientists in Washington to help shape environmental policies that were taking place.

"There was really a lot of good science happening that wasn"t penetrating the political psyche," Bierbaum said. "I was much more needed in Washington as a sort of political translator of knowledge than I was living in a lab where I had intended to go."

Under interim Dean Barry Rabe, SNRE has been developing a partnership with LSA to facilitate the eventual consolidation of the undergraduate SNRE program within LSA. The merger is pending until the University Board of Regents gives its approval. The SNRE graduate program will remain intact.

Rabe said that one of his goals has been to allow students to become actively involved in both schools.

"We know that student undergraduate interest in the environment is at an all-time high, and yet students for decades have had to make a choice: Do they do the wealth of activities in LSA or do they come over to SNRE?" Rabe said. "Despite tremendous interest, our enrollment was not growing."

Bierbaum plans to continue incorporating SNRE into LSA, as well as making a connection with other schools in the University. She said one of the main characteristics that drew her to the University was the strong academic foundation within SNRE as well as the Business School, Law School and Ford School of Public Policy, which all play a role in environmental issues.

"U of M as a whole is so strong," Bierbaum said. "With a diverse faculty and really interesting student body, I couldn"t find a better match."

Faculty members expressed enthusiasm about what new aspects Bierbaum will bring to the school.

"I"m very excited about the new dean. I think her science background and experience talking with policy makers at the highest level will provide a direction to our school that will link the policy and science work that we all do here," said SNRE Prof. Daniel Brown.

Though some students hope the new dean brings improvements and advancements to the school, many are content with their experience and hope for the school to continue its positive aspects.

"I"ve really enjoyed my time here and I hope others get to have that same type of experience," said SNRE senior Rebecca Meuninck. "I hope all the good things can stay the same like the small tight-knit community we have here."