By: Cody Nelson

College of Liberal Arts Dean James Parente announced Wednesday he plans to step down this summer.

After more than a decade as a University of Minnesota administrator, Parente will leave his current position on June 30, he said in an email to faculty, staff and students. He became CLA dean in 2008.

In his email, Parente noted that despite financial challenges, the school was able to recruit “outstanding faculty and staff,“ implement a long-term collegiate plan and renovate campus buildings, including Folwell Hall.

“The project of a university is never completely concluded,” he wrote, “but the college is well positioned to continue to build on established strengths and to support the signature interdisciplinary work that is a hallmark of CLA's distinction.”

Before becoming an administrator, Parente worked in the Department of German, Scandinavian and Dutch.

Parente will continue working at the University as a faculty member.