Ohio State will be getting more than just a new president when William “Brit” Kirwan comes to town. The OSU Board of Trustees approved the concurrent appointment of Kirwan as a professor of mathematics. The appointment will be effective July 1, 1998.Patrick Fitzpatrick, chair of the mathematics department at the University of Maryland, said Kirwan has been actively involved in the math department, even while serving as university president.”He has taught numerous courses throughout the years,” he said. “But he teaches these courses sporadically.”Kirwan said hopes to teach a freshman-level calculus course at OSU.”It’s a good idea for me to teach undergrads,” Kirwan said. “That’s a way to have direct contact with students and learn about their experiences.”He said juggling the roles of teacher and president is a “bit of a challenge,” since he is frequently required to be off-campus.At Maryland, he worked with a teaching assistant who could answer student questions if he wasn’t available outside the classroom.Maureen Sharkey, assistant secretary of the OSU Board of Trustees, said it is not unusual for such an appointment to take place.The status Kirwan has received as a faculty member at Maryland is transferred to OSU, she said. That is the way it has been with former OSU presidents for the last 25 years.Former OSU president E. Gordon Gee taught a law class at OSU in 1996.Kirwan began teaching at the University of Maryland in 1968, serving as an associate professor of mathematics. He later held the positions of professor and chair of the department. His area of research is functions of complex variables, but it is not known what courses he will teach and how often.According to a statement from the board, Kirwan will not receive any compensation while teaching.
Jamie Pietras contributed to this story
