Former dean of social science on his way to Dubai

He’s leaving Saturday for the Middle East, which he’ll call home for at least the next two years.

But unlike the majority of Americans in the region, Brendan Mullan’s responsibilities won’t be militant — they will be academic.

Mullan was named executive director of MSU in Dubai at the MSU Board of Trustees meeting Dec. 7. John Hudzik, MSU vice president of global engagement and strategic projects, said Mullan will be responsible for establishing MSU’s “brand name” before the facilities open to students in August.

“He’s going to have to assure the facilities are done to our needs and standards, play a critical role in hiring key staff from Dubai and MSU, and obviously he’s going to have to be very closely attuned to the budget,” Hudzik said.

Hudzik said when he, MSU Provost Kim Wilcox and the deans of MSU’s colleges began examining criteria for the position, Mullan’s name rose to the top.

The ideal candidate needed significant experience in international relations and academic administration, and, most importantly, needed to be an MSU faculty member.

“(It) was our preference to have someone who was already a member of the faculty because I think it’s very important MSU in Dubai has the face of MSU,” Hudzik said.

“That means having someone there who knows MSU’s culture and practices — who knows Dubai.”

Mullan, an MSU employee since 1991, most recently served as an associate dean in MSU’s College of Social Science where he was acting director of the center for integrative studies.

Mullan has also held positions at the University of the Aegean, in Greece, and the University of Oxford, in England.

“He and his family have experience living abroad, which is very important,” MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said.

“He’s also a demographer by profession, so he’ll be able to continue his research program in Dubai.”

Mullan said “opportunity” and “challenge” were the two words that most defined his interest in the project.

“We have an opportunity to establish a presence in an area of the world that will reflect our values, but I don’t underestimate the difficulties in doing so,” Mullan said.

“We are not simply going to Dubai for teaching, but to fulfill complete details of a land-grant university: teaching, research and community engagement.”

Mullan said he doesn’t feel “under-the-gun” pressure about meeting the fall deadline, but he understands it will be difficult.

“We think it’s doable. We wouldn’t commit to opening if we didn’t think so,” he said.

Mullan’s wife and two children will join him in August, though he will make frequent trips back to East Lansing to report on the program’s progress.

Published on Sunday, January 6, 2008