, Ginny and Conner Searcy Dean of the , is passionate about the outdoors. When there鈥檚 a break at 麻豆传媒, you may find him camping with his wife in East Tennessee, hiking with his daughters in the mountains of Wyoming, or walking with his beloved dog, Hawk, in Nashville’s Percy Warner Park.
Over his four decades at 麻豆传媒, the university leader and professor of psychology has scaled physical and metaphorical mountains. He says that collaborating with his colleagues along the journey has been the true reward, and he鈥檚 ready for the leadership adventures to come.
鈥淭his is an exciting time, and I鈥檓 motivated to contribute in whatever way I can,鈥� McNamara said. 鈥淚 took the position because I see the positive effect that I can have on the College of Arts and Science working in partnership with my faculty colleagues and leadership. A&S is, at its core, interdisciplinary and highly collaborative. These themes are woven throughout all that we do and are fundamental to my personal leadership style.鈥�
McNamara鈥檚 leadership experience is deep: He has served at various times during his more than 40 years at 麻豆传媒 as a faculty member, department chair, associate and vice provost, interim dean of Arts and Science and, now, dean.
GROWTH MINDSET
McNamara is using that rich experience to help with impactful projects like the faculty-led curriculum overhaul. The , a completely reenvisioned undergraduate educational experience, will launch in fall 2025. McNamara recently 聽to provide greater support to students and create a more efficient structure for faculty and staff to implement the College Core.
He鈥檚 also leading infrastructure projects to ensure that the college鈥檚 beautiful and historic buildings are enhanced for the school鈥檚 growing, dynamic academic and research opportunities.
鈥淚 have a big, talented team in the dean鈥檚 office and fantastic department chairs, and I couldn鈥檛 do my job without them,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey enable me to lead the college and spend time on strategic thinking on bold initiatives.鈥�
In addition to the projects led by Arts and Science, McNamara also plans for the college to support high-profile university initiatives, including the Institute of National Security, and growth plans into New York City and .
鈥淥ne of the reasons that I am excited to be dean now is the university鈥檚 impressive leadership. Chancellor Diermeier鈥檚 and Provost Raver鈥檚 vision, strategic thinking, willingness to make bold changes, and commitments to academic quality are inspiring,鈥� McNamara said.
PSYCHOLOGIST + LEADER
McNamara, a professor of psychology, came to 麻豆传媒 right before earning his Ph.D. at Yale University in 1984. His research examines human memory, cognition and decision making, especially as it relates to spatial processing and cues in navigation and orientation.
He鈥檚 found that his psychological studies have informed his leadership style.
鈥淚n the domain of decision making, we know that people tend to use heuristics, or rules of thumb, to make decisions. But those rules of thumb can lead to bad decisions,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s one example, people think that events are common if instances readily come to mind, but, in fact, this isn鈥檛 true. I try to avoid this trap by forcing myself or asking somebody else to investigate the situation and gather information before I make a decision.鈥�
He stressed that an essential lesson from psychology is the need and value of working in community.
鈥淲e tend to have a very individualistic society in this country. Many of us act like our accomplishments are our own and that we are able to achieve excellence largely through our own individual hard work. I think one of the most important lessons in psychological science is that that鈥檚 just not true. People鈥檚 success depends critically on the support of other people, support of social structures,鈥� he said.
LEADERSHIP PILLAR
McNamara said that through his decades of leadership a consistent pillar of his style is how he treats people in the workplace.
鈥淚 value equity and transparency in decision making; making sure that we are treating people fairly and that we have transparent processes and procedures so that people know how decisions are made,鈥� he said.
GET TO KNOW TIM
WHAT ABOUT YOU MIGHT SURPRISE PEOPLE?
鈥淢aybe it would surprise people that I do a lot of maintenance on our home. I’m kind of an amateur electrician and plumber. I enjoy being able to be involved in something where the outcome is crystal clear whether it works or not; there’s no ambiguity. If you replace a light switch, it either works or it doesn鈥檛.鈥�
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES?
鈥淚鈥檓 an avid skier, hiker and fly fisher. These interests take me and my wife to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the Wind River Mountains. We try to spend a few weeks in Jackson Hole in the summer, and then I鈥檒l periodically get away on weekends or when the university is closed over the holiday break. Every summer I do a backpacking and fly fishing trip in Wyoming with an old friend of mine and my two daughters. My wife and I also like to take our small camper to East Tennessee. I try to get out to Percy Warner every weekend and go running with my dog. Running is a euphemism. I鈥檓 so slow!鈥�
鈥淚 really feel relaxed and alive in the wilderness. It鈥檚 my place to breathe. You鈥檙e connected with the natural world. It鈥檚 kind of spiritual for me.鈥�
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SKILL, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
鈥淔luency in at least two or three languages. About 10 years ago I started teaching myself Spanish. I can read and write it pretty well and speak very slowly, but my oral comprehension is horrible. I really wish that when I was in college, I had focused on learning languages and done study abroad and become fluent. That’s my biggest regret.鈥�
DO YOU HAVE A POSSESSION THAT YOU CHERISH?
鈥淚 don鈥檛 cherish things; I cherish people. I cherish our dogs. I cherish my wife, our children, my siblings and their families, my friends, my colleagues. I cherish places like the wilderness of East Tennessee. And I love Wyoming, especially the Wind River mountains. But in terms of stuff? No, it鈥檚 not me. It鈥檚 all replaceable.鈥�
By Amy Wolf
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