Sparky Reardon—who dedicated 36 years to his alma mater, the University of Mississippi—was a witness to the best, and worst, of times at Ole Miss. Reardon engaged with every facet of campus life, navigating the wild and unpredictable situations sparked by students (and, at times, by visitors). Reardon found himself in the midst of campus crises where he facilitated the university family through tragedy and loss (some involved student casualties); he navigated intricate battles for freedom of expression on campus (including confrontations with the Ku Klux Klan and loony street preachers); he gently guided students (and sometimes administrators and politicians) through complex judicial issues; and he had a rare, insider’s view of the evolution of Oxford, Mississippi, from a quiet college town to a vibrant cultural hub.

In The Dean, Sparky lays bare the joys and hardships of what he describes as “the best job in America.” In 1968, Reardon enrolled at Ole Miss with an eye on law school. Two years later, his plans shifted. Summoned to the dean’s office to account for his role as social chairman in breaking university rules, Reardon experienced a pivotal moment of clarity. As Reardon remembered, “It might have been the result of one of our parties running too late or getting too loud, or perhaps there was a chance that beer was involved.” He realized that someone, someday, would need to take this man’s place. Reardon left that meeting determined to become the dean of students at Ole Miss.

Raised in Clarksdale, Mississippi, a young Sparky Reardon turned to books after a severe knee injury ended his sports days. Guided by inspiring teachers, he cultivated a passion for writing. Artist and author William Dunlap said, “Sparky Reardon’s The Dean is anecdotally rich and beautifully written. His prose—which soars—is once again proof that language is a Southerner’s birth."