Director of Architecture Dismissed

            The Director of Architecture was fired from the architecture division position Friday, Feb. 18 after five years of holding the job.

Professor Nick Harm discusses his position at the Starbucks
on Campus Corner. Photo By: Erin Leigh Wilson

            Assistant Professor Nick Harm has been the Director of Architecture since 2006 and despite being a well-loved administrator and instructor by students, the College of Architecture’s Dean Charles W. Graham discharged him from the position.  A statement sent out by the dean, addressed rumors as to the departure of the director, stating that Harm had resigned and not mentioning that he had been terminated.

            “I was asked to step down, there is a difference, but the net result is the same,” Harm said.

            The College of Architecture dean before Graham had asked all of the directors to step down, after becoming dean, in order to evaluate who worked well in the position and could then be reinstated as directors.
  “The process here seems to be, assessing everybody in their position and then deciding who should stay in that position and who shouldn’t stay in that position,” said Harm.

            After Dean Graham became the head of the College of Architecture three years ago, Harm had suggested that his position as director was outdated and that it was necessary for a fresher perspective.  Despite Harm’s admission that he was willing to resign, he remained in the position.

            “I’m good at stepping in and maintaining the program, but I think we need younger and fresher ideas than mine, I’ve been here for 30 years and I think that was always in the back pocket, that I’m interested in stepping down at anytime… I really stepped into the position sort of out of necessity, I was willing to do the job,” Harm said.

            Although Harm had been willing to resign from the position, some have questioned the timeliness and manner of the decision. Brenda Terhark, who was the assistant to the directors at the College of Architecture, was shocked to hear of Harm’s termination.

            “Nick had offered at different times if that is what [Dean Graham] thought would be best for the college, that he would step down and the dean had always said no…and so that was what was surprising to Nick at this time,” Terhark said.

            According to Terhark, many of the faculty and staff were just as surprised to hear of the removal of Harm as director, but Harm stated that much of the reasons for his termination were to generate new ideas and a personality more suited to the position.

            Despite no longer having the duties of director, Harm will continue to teach courses and aid with the search and responsibilities of the job until the position is filled.

            John Postic, a fifth year architecture senior, was relieved to know that Harm would continue educating architecture students.

            “I know he liked it more this way because he enjoyed teaching,” said Postic, “In recent years he’s kind of just been stuck behind a desk administrating more than he’s actually been able to teach.”

            Postic has enjoyed Harm’s presence as both administrator and professor because of his attention to the needs of his students. Harm said he has held fast to the thought that students and teaching were the most important part to a school and works hard for that belief. 

            “He’s a fantastic administrator, we always see him around the school and everybody knows him and recognizes him…he’s a really great guy,” Postic said.