Professor Melissa Dennihy, an adjunct who has been at Stern since Fall 2011, will not be returning to Stern in the fall. She has accepted a tenure-track job position at another university (which she prefers not to name since she has not yet signed the contract).
“I am quite sad about leaving Stern and the wonderful students I’ve worked with here, but am excited for the opportunity to advance in my career,” said Dennihy. Dennihy was intended to teach both English Comp. and a mandatory Level II English Survey class in the fall. Faculty members to fill these now vacant positions have yet to be announced.
Dennihy’s abrupt departure is indicative of the precariousness of adjunct professorship. The university’s commitment to an adjunct professor is limited. An adjunct’s commitment to a university is therefore non-exclusive. On the other hand, a tenure-track or tenured professor works full time at one institution, receives a set salary, benefit packages (including a retirement plan), and job stability. Tenure-track or tenured professors are a much more long-term and significant investment on the part of the university.
The Stern English Department filed a request with Dean Bacon to approve two full-time tenure track faculty members to begin in fall 2014. Recruiting, according to Dean Bacon, would take place during the 2013-2014 academic year.
With the Department currently so depleted, students look forward to finding out who will assume these positions.