 |
Wei portrait joins collection
by Sara Peters
Two
little girls in ponytails and patent leather shoes chased
each other through a maze of legs. The legs belonged to some
of Princeton's most prestigious leaders. Top University administrators
and departmental chairmen all dodged the children. They had
gathered in the Friend Center for Engineering Education to
witness the unveiling of the commemorative portrait of James
Wei, dean emeritus of the School of Engineering and Applied
Science (SEAS). Yet an air of fun pervaded the room, and who
would have expected different?
Above, SEAS Dean Emeritus
James Wei stands next to his portrait, which now hangs
in the convocation room of the Friend Center for Engineering
Education. Below, SEAS Dean Maria Klawe, right, joins
previous SEAS deans Robert Jahn, left, and Hisashi Kobayashi
at the dedication of Dean Wei's portrait. |
During
his tenure as dean, James Wei, professor of chemical engineering,
always combined business with pleasure. His tenure was characterized
by a certain youthfulness, both in his gutsy attitude toward
change, and his charming jocularity that sent audiences into
uproars of laughter on many occasions. So it was fitting that
his portrait unveiling would be characterized by a playful
attitude. Everyone caught on, from his granddaughters playing
tag, to the speakers who introduced him.
Allen Sinisgalli,
vice provost for research and physical planning, said the
occasion reminded him of Oscar Wilde's story The Portrait
of Dorian Gray, in which a man kept a portrait of himself
hanging in the attic. Over the years, the man in the portrait
grew older and grayer, while the man himself stayed ever youthful.
"Jim,"
Mr. Sinisgalli said to Professor Wei, "you always
have a winning smile, a twinkle in your eye, and a hop in
your step. You enjoy people around you, and all this seems
to maintain your youthful appearance." Mr. Sinisgalli
then turned to Professor Wei's wife, raised an eyebrow, and
asked, "Virginia, what does he have in the attic? I'll
be watching this portrait very carefully." On
a more serious note, Joseph Taylor, professor of physics and
former dean of the faculty, spoke about the qualities that
made Professor Wei such an effective dean.
"Jim
always brought a cool head and a sound judgment to discussions
about University issues," he said. "He cares deeply
about the University, and he cares deeply about the people
here." Professor
Wei stepped up, preparing to sweep the black cloak off his
portrait.
"I
feel honored to have been at Princeton and served as dean
for 11 years," he said. "But I have a secret to
tell you. For the last year I've been on sabbatical, and I've
enjoyed that even more."
Professor
Wei uncloaked the portrait while everyone oohed and
aahed, examining the keen resemblance. At first glance,
he appears the picture of scholarship. He is seated,
dressed in full scholarly regalia, with his gown and
hood, grasping a book in one hand. A molecular model
rests atop a scroll behind him. His visage is calm and
erudite, with a qui et power. On closer inspection,
though, it is impossible to miss a certain sparkle behind
his spectacles, and a subtle curve of his lips--just
a hint of a winsome, mischievous smile. Indeed, Australian
artist Paul Newton captured the leader, the educator,
the scholar, and the colorful character Princetonians
have grown to admire over the years.
Dean
Wei's portrait now hangs in the Friend Center convocation
room alongside the portraits of his predecessors.
|
Photos by Frank Wojciechowski
[ contents
] [
previous story ] [
next story ]
[ top
of page ]
|
