By Denise Smith Amos
Enquirer staff writer

Deans of three of the University of Cincinnati's most prestigious graduate programs have resigned.

Joseph P. Tomain, the 15-year head of UC's College of Law, announced Friday, that he will turn over the helm of the school Oct. 1.

Dr. William J. Martin II, who has led UC's College of Medicine for two years, announced his resignation Thursday, effective immediately.

And in mid-June, Stephen T. Kowel tendered his resignation as dean of the College of Engineering, effective in September, after five years of leadership.

All three changes were announced by the university's two provosts, who did not specify reasons for the changes. The provosts appointed two interim deans: Roy Eckart at the engineering college and Dr. Ronald A. Sacher at the medical school.

A replacement for Tomain has not been named, said Greg Hand, a university spokesman. Tomain, Martin and Kowel will remain part of the university faculty.

UC's College of Medicine serves 993 students. Its College of Engineering serves 3,053 students. And its law school serves 357.

Nancy Zimpher, who became UC's president in May, was in Columbus and unavailable for comment Monday.

She announced in May a strategic plan called "UC/21: Defining the New Urban Research University," which is designed to elevate UC's national prominence and recognition for research, community partnerships and student-centered learning.

Dr. Martin wrote a letter to staff and faculty that said he resigned after Dr. Jane Henney, provost for health affairs, "informed me of her desire to take the College of Medicine in a new direction."

Henney and Zimpher then offered Martin a newly created position as vice president of research at UC, which he declined.

"While this new position offers much potential, its parameters are still being defined," Martin wrote.

Martin said he plans to retain his tenured professorship and has an endowed chair in the College of Medicine. He said he will continue research funded by three grants from the National Institutes of Health totaling $972,000 a year and maintain his national role in researching asthma.

"In short, I plan to continue my career in academic medicine that has included 14 years at Mayo Clinic as a clinician and scientist and a subsequent 14 years at Indiana University," he said.

Tomain "did much to build the stature of UC's College of Law among the legal community in Cincinnati and throughout the nation," Anthony Perzigian, UC's provost for baccalaureate and graduate studies, wrote in a statement.

He credited Tomain with successful efforts to diversify the college and improve the rate of law students passing the bar.

"While dean, he maintained his efforts in legal scholarship, particularly focused on energy and the environment," Perzigian wrote.

Tomain was involved in supporting the Ohio Innocence Project, in which law school students re-examine evidence using new technology that may not have been available when crimes were committed to help people convicted of crimes get new trials.

Tomain could not be reached for comment.

City Councilman John Cranley, an adjunct instructor, said the project "is a huge addition to the law school. I think it's going to recruit a lot of people to the school. It wouldn't have happened without (Tomain's) support."

Under Kowel, UC's College of Engineering created a department of biomedical engineering and a program in which students can earn a bachelor's and master's of science in five years.

Kowel said he was not asked to resign, but stepped down for reasons he declined to discuss.

Hand, UC's spokesman, said the departure of three of the University's 17 deans is "not unprecedented."

"There's so many factors that enter into a college's direction, you expect change and evolution to go on continually in colleges," he said.

He said the changes won't affect curriculum or class schedules.