Catholic professor denied tenure

…in a Catholic school. What’s going on here? The University of St. Thomas student newspaper carried the front page story last week.

After her application for tenure was denied a third time by the hierarchy, Dr. Siobhan Nash-Marshall filed a lawsuit against the school and its president for breach of contract and breach of good faith in employment. Some say it’s baffling, some say it’s political, but one thing is for sure….it’s not over.

Nash-Marshall met all the criteria for tenure and then some. Her portfolio needed to show evidence that she met the “professional develoment requirements of teaching, professional engagement and service.” She exceeded that.

She has served on several committees within the philosophy department and the greater university, including the human diversity committee, and has been an academic adviser since 2001. She also has been a member of various professional associations, including the American Catholic Philosophical Association. She organized three International Armenian Conferences held at St. Thomas and has given numerous lectures around the globe.

Baffled, she asked for and got another hearing, after which the academic council reversed its first baffling decision to deny her tenure, but UST President, Rev. Dennis Dease, still rejected it.

She then filed a formal grievance and appeared at a hearing before the grievance committee Nov. 13, 2006. She said she presented a portfolio of her service work to the committee; it included more than 500 pages of letters and e-mails from colleagues substantiating her service, she said. “They [the members of the grievance committee] left no stone unturned,” Nash-Marshall said. The grievance committee unanimously recommended that her application for tenure be reconsidered, she said. Despite the committee’s recommendation, Dease denied her application for the third time.

What to make of this conflict? Here’s what some of her colleagues have said:

Journalism professor Thomas Connery, academic dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the time, said he thought Nash-Marshall had a strong tenure and promotion case. “I am very puzzled by the decision and I remain puzzled,” he said…

Philosophy professor Michael Degnan met Nash-Marshall when she began teaching at St. Thomas. He described her as “an excellent teacher and a strong Catholic woman and philosopher.” She studies work that advances the Catholic theological tradition and has published works on popular and scholarly levels, Degnan said. “That’s not an easy combination to replace,” Degnan said. “There will be a big hole there.”

Here’s what some of her students said:

Senior Christal LaFavre, who took two philosophy classes taught by Nash-Marshall, said she was impressed with the professor because she allowed students to be real. Students came to class because each day was different and exciting, LaFavre said. “I’ve never been so challenged in my thinking or pushed so hard, and in a good way,” LaFavre said. The university’s decision to deny Nash-Marshall tenure was “a big mistake,” LaFavre said. She wondered why the university would allow “such an asset” to leave. “It infuriates me,” LaFavre said. “I’m so blown away at what their reason for denying tenure was.”

Freshman Erin Lyle, who took a philosophy class last semester taught by Nash-Marshall, said she was impressed by her teaching. “She’s exceedingly passionate, and she definitely has the life experience to back it up,” Lyle said. She was “very bothered” by the university’s decision to deny Nash-Marshall’s application for tenure, she said, adding that Nash-Marshall’s departure will be “a loss to the university.” “She doesn’t want to leave,” Lyle said. “She is fighting to stay here. Why would we let such a good teacher go?”

That is a very good question, and one that has not as yet been answered publicly. If there is a case against Dr. Nash-Marshall, what is it? Some students, faculty and alumni believe it’s political, part of the ongoing controversy at UST between the secular liberals who want the school to be more culturally progressive, and the population who want the school to uphold Catholic traditions and teachings.

I received a letter from someone in that latter group at UST, who said that Nash-Marshall “is extremely intelligent, energetic, committed and challenging. She is the only professor (in the philosophy department) with a ‘fan club’ of sorts — over any given lunch hour, she can be found in her office talking with 2-8 students about anything from philosophy and theology to travel and poetry.” This person went on to say: “Unfortunately, there are many who would like to see UST continue to move in a more secular direction.”

Hm…”continue to move” means they are already moving in that direction.

The letter writer said that a large group of them, student, faculty and alumni, are struggling to “maintain a critical mass of faculty who care about the university’s Catholic identity.” And, “Dr. Nash-Marshall’s departure will be a huge loss in that regard as well as in UST’s teaching and scholarship.”

This was an impassioned letter, by someone who knows that I care a great deal about the school. My son graduated from there last year at this time, with a degree in four majors, Summa Cum Laude, which the faculty member who called his name to receive his diploma neglected to add, in a momentary mental slip. He completed four years at St. John Vianney Seminary, one of the finest college seminaries in the country. One of his degrees was in UST’s Catholic Studies, one of the finest in the country. All the students and seminarians, faculty and staff I know from there are outstanding individuals who bring honor to the school they represent.

This controversy does a great disservice to the part of the school that deserves that honor. Last year, Fr. Dease made what was probably a very tough decision on another controversy at UST, and it was the right one, and he deserves credit and appreciation for that. But maybe this is a backlash of that decision to uphold Church teaching when some faculty members stood against it. Maybe some of those members are pressuring him now on the tenure of Dr. Nash-Marshall.

It clearly would be a great injustice to deny her that, and I don’t believe that Fr. Dease wants to be the deciding voice of injustice. So there must be some explanation for this conflict, and some way to resolve it justly. The university and Fr. Dease filed a motion in district court to dismiss Dr. Nash-Marshall’s complaint because it “fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted,” as The Aquin reports. “A hearing on the university’s motion to dismiss will be held July 30.”

Surely, before that date the university and Fr. Dease will be able to go over Dr. Nash-Marshall’s entire record thoroughly and discover not only the claim she states, but find their way to grant the relief she seeks, which is the tenure she deserves. 

I would like to recommend Ex Corde Ecclesiae as part of the review of that record. It seems to be so…timely.

0 Comment

  • I’m a student at UST, and I have never had Dr. Nash-Marshall as a professor. However, looking at her credentials, I see no reason why she shouldn’t be given tenure. I am completely baffled by this decision! There must be a political reason behind this that I don’t understand, and I don’t know if it will ever come out. One thing I have noticed is that both liberal and conservative students are rallying behind Dr. Nash-Marshall, and she is well-respected by both groups.

    Maybe she somehow angered someone in a position of power. That’s all I can think of to explain the situation.

  • Siobhan Nash-Marshall is an awesome prof. I took her for both of my philosophy classes. It’s rare to find a teacher that actually cares that you learn and actually wants to hear what you have to say. Teaching is her life. I am really disappointed with how UST is handling this. I actually had sent her an email a few months back asking her if she wanted to have lunch or something because I had just had a conversation with my friend on a topic I thought she might enjoy. I later found out that she had already been removed from the university and was really disappointed. I don’t know anyone else I could have a conversation like that with. I’m going to miss seeing her on campus and I am sad for the people that won’t have the opportunity to take her and learn from her.

  • This came as a complete and total shock to me – I have been attempting to find any further information on what exactly happened, however this is a complete outrage and yet another black mark against our fair university and a horrendous loss to our outstanding Philosophy department. I hope and pray that OUR grievance with Fr. Dease’s management style is resolved. I have it in mind to write directly to our Archbishops (current and incoming) about this matter as, from what I can tell, there is no logical reason for this dismissal other than “because I don’t like you and I can” on the part of Fr. Dease. And we already know that writing to Fr. Dease isn’t going to do anything. And neither are the petitions now going around campus (worthy though they are) going to be of any use unless they also go to Fr. Dease’s boss.

    I was a student in Andrew’s class with Dr. Nash-Marshall (Epistemology), and did my senior thesis in Philosophy under her watch – and I could not have had any better of a professor to do it under. Dr. Siobhan was, and is, the professor I respect the most of all the ones I have had, in any discipline. I was just thinking the other day of how I longed to return to our “jam sessions”, with 7 of us crammed into Dr. Siobhan’s office, with her going around the circle quick as anything, holding 7 different conversations at once! I remember at the time thinking that this must have been what it was like to be with Aquinas dictating. 🙂 Her honesty, her dedication, her devotion to teaching with truth and love – it is incomprehensible to me how this woman, who LIVES to teach, who knows in her heart that this is not a “career” for her but her VOCATION, can be shunted aside and “canned” for what is, apparently, political reasons. Disgusting.

    I can’t think of a single student in the class I had with her, or any of the other students I know who had her, who wouldn’t back me up on praising her skill and dedication as a prof. She is really unparalleled in her deftness and ability to parse out difficult concepts (at a rapid-fire pace!). Though I guess for teaching undergrads she can be TOO quick, that mind of hers works triple time. And, I can’t say that I saw her having any really close friends or associates, she’s kind of cut from the same cloth as Athanasius! She is as smart as anyone I’ve met or studied under, and the fact that she sees enough of a case to sue tells me that she DOES. There is no way she would be spending the expense to bring in lawyers unless this is a real case – and that makes me wonder just what on earth Fr. Dease was thinking. He must not really know her, not like her students know her! If he did, he would have known better than to do what he’s doing! And now, the poor man, he’s caught. I think he’s made one political move too many, and right on the cusp of a new Archbishop’s tenure (pun intended) who does NOT play games!

    And here I thought it was the Theology department that was the source of all controversy!

    I will stand up anywhere, at any time, to speak for Dr. Nash-Marshall – just contact me with the when and where. email me at marygibson81 at gmail dot com

  • Sioban, is my favorite prfessor at saint thomas. I think her situation is unfair and I want to see it rectified.

  • Everybody is trying to be politically correct by saying that they are \”puzzled\” and \”baffled\” by the situation with Siobhan, but the situation is complete bullshit…

    Siobhan is one of those people who tends to intimidate others with different opinions… it\’s not because she talks down to people or anything, it\’s just that she\’s a brilliant woman and her arguments are almost always stronger…

    So for Dennis Dease, our sorry excuse of a President at UST, I don\’t blame him for trying to get rid of teachers who stand up for what they believe in and have the balls to do what they feel is right… however, I do think it\’s pathetic.

    I was one of those students in Siobhan\’s \”fan club\” but it had nothing to do with me thinking she was a \”cool\” or \”fun\” teacher – she is one of the most brilliant people I have ever met, and I would spend my free hours in her office finding solutions to the worlds problems.

    I own a multi-million dollar corporation and part of what we\\\’re doing and where we\’re going is because of Siobhan. She forced me to get outside of my way of thinking and expand my vision… she taught me to think in different ways… and most important she forced me to be a leader.

    She is one of 3 teachers I have had since middle school that has taught me lessons that I have carried over into the workforce. Some people agree with me and others think I\’m a lunatic when I say that a majority of the information that I spent a fortune learning isn\’t useful past getting a good grade in a class.

    My company does business on a global level in China, Malaysia, Romania, India, and other parts of the world, and we have sold products on every continent, but not a single thing I learned in school prepared me for that…

    And nothing prepared me for building up a corporation and expanding my vision and being a leader and innovator in my industry… that is all stuff I\’ve had to learn by doing (and by failing)…

    90% of your success in business is going to be what you learn along the way, not what you\’re taught in the classroom…

    Siobhan isn\’t just a Philosophy professor, she teaches indepence, confidence, and most importantly leadership. That is something that is extremely rare to find in a teacher and that is why students are so fond of her.

    By getting rid of Siobhan you are going to be doing one of the greatest disservices to the students at St. Thomas. You are going to take away one of your top professors who instills confidence in others and above all else, teaches leadership – I thought \”leadership\” was a virtue at St. Thomas (it\’s funny how situations like this can show the real character of your \”leaders\”).

    For all of you against that and against Siobhan, you have no idea what it means to be a leader .

    I wish the best of luck to Siobhan and if for some crazy, political reason that things don\’t go in the favor her, then she\’s better off and the University of St. Thomas will once again be taking a wrong turn and demoralizing its students – the ONE and ONLY concern that should be on their mind is the better interest of its students, but this isn\’t the only case that\’s shown where their interests are (it\’s sad that they don\’t have the courage to admit it)

    And a final note, Mary Gibson hit the nail on the head!

  • I’m working out the glitch that added those errant characters in the comment above. The story has enough errant characters already.

  • I attended NYU as an undergrad with Siobhan, and can attest to her intelligence and passion even then. I am not familiar with the current situation, but if knowing her work ethic as a student in the late 1980’s adds anything to the conversation, I can state that her work ethic and zest for her subject matter struck me even back then.

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