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USF St. Petersburg dean promoted in academics

By Times Staff
Published March 22, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Mark Durand, dean of the college of arts and sciences at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, is the school's new regional vice chancellor for academic affairs.

As the chief academic officer, Durand will supervise the college deans and the Poynter Library and oversee admissions, academic advising, financial aid and student retention. He is an expert on developmental disabilities and the author of several textbooks on abnormal psychology.

"Dr. Durand is well respected for his support of the faculty and is widely viewed as proactive on their behalf," regional chancellor Karen White said in a statement.

Durand said he is excited about his new responsibilities.

"The energy that is clear from both faculty and staff on campus is infectious, and the vision for USF St. Petersburg holds tremendous promise," he said. "I feel fortunate to be able to be part of such an ambitious agenda."

A St. Petersburg College professor accused of dating a student in his class is losing his paycheck a week before he appears before an administrative judge to plead his case.

SPC's trustees voted 4-1 to cancel Gary Rodriguez's $43,014 salary pending a judge's finding. The college turned the matter over to a judge rather than having to investigate and punish Rodriguez.

Trustee Ken Burke, clerk of the circuit court, was the lone dissenter. His move forced college attorney Joe Lang to amend a previously written document that said the trustees unanimously supported the suspension.

The board had to decide whether there was probable cause to suspend Rodriguez's pay. But as the hourlong discussion morphed into a he-said, she-said conversation, Burke said he needed more facts and fewer allegations.

TAMPA - Former Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Al Suarez, fired last month for his role in a firehouse photo shoot featuring two strippers, missed the deadline for an appeal to get his job back.

Suarez had until Friday to file the paperwork, which would have gotten him an appearance before the city's director of human resources, Sarah Lang.

But Suarez didn't file the papers, Fire Rescue spokesman Capt. Bill Wade said. Neither did Suarez's attorney, Bob McKee.

Suarez, a 20-year veteran of the department, was seeking reinstatement to his nearly $80,000-a-year job.

In February, a six-week investigation into the Oct. 17 photo shoot at Fire Station 21 in New Tampa concluded that Suarez, 44, organized the shoot with the two strippers. Both strippers performed at his bachelor party weeks later.

[Last modified March 22, 2005, 01:20:07]