Thomas Treloar is a Professor of Mathematics.
Courtesy | Hillsdale Archives

Chairman and Professor of Mathematics Thomas Treloar will become the new dean of faculty this summer.

Treloar, who is in his 20th year at the college, will succeed Professor of History Mark Kalthoff in the role. 

“He’s been an excellent citizen of the college, and he’s been an effective leader of the math department,” Kalthoff said.

Treloar said he will transition into the role over the summer when campus slows down before taking on official duties in the fall.

“I’ll start sitting in on some meetings even though I’m not actively serving in that position,” Treloar said.

Kalthoff, who has held the position two separate times during his 35 years at Hillsdale, said the tasks of the dean of faculty vary from serving on many committees, to attending college luncheons, to reading graduate names during commencement ceremonies.

“As dean of faculty, you’re given a seat at the table where you get to hear about plans, and you’re allowed to give feedback,” Kalthoff said. “It’s fun and it’s enjoyable, when you love the college, to be part of the conversation that is helping to plan and shape things.”

The dean of faculty is a five-year position.

“There are a number of things that are very visible and also a lot of things that, if they’re going right, are invisible,” Kalthoff said. 

Treloar said he is excited to form relationships with more faculty members across different disciplines through this position.

“There was a time about a decade ago that I knew every single faculty member and I had had at least a brief conversation with everyone — back when we had maybe 120 faculty members,” Treloar said. “But when I became department chair, I had to spend more time within my department.”

Treloar said after he took on the role of chairman of mathematics, he interacted less with faculty in other departments. As dean of faculty, he is excited to re-establish those relationships.

“I’m looking forward to meeting a lot of the people that have been hired in the last five to seven years that I haven’t had a chance to have a conversation with,” Treloar said.

Junior math major Marybeth Brauns said Treloar deserves the position. 

“Dr. Treloar is a wonderful professor who loves math, cares about his students, and has contributed so much to the Hillsdale College community,” Brauns said. “I’m excited to see what he’ll do in this next role.”

Kalthoff, who will remain a professor of history, said he is optimistic about Treloar taking on the role, as he knows the college well.

“The thing about being dean of faculty is it’s really helpful if you know a little bit about how this place works,” Kalthoff said. “Tom has been here almost two full decades, so he knows how the place works.”