Tengatenga will replace Tucker dean Richard Crocker, who will retire in August after 11 years at the College. Tengatenga is expected to assume the position next spring.
Critics argued that Tengatenga's previous statements contrast with Tucker's message of inclusivity and questioned why he was chosen to serve as Dartmouth's moral spokesperson.
English professor Ivy Schweitzer expressed her disapproval with Tengatenga's appointment in a letter to College President Phil Hanlon, said women's and gender studies professor Michael Bronski, who has circulated a letter objecting to the appointment to a faculty group. Dartmouth's chapter of the NAACP is editing a similar letter that will soon be sent to community groups for signatures, chapter president Jordan Terry '15 said.
German and comparative literature professor Irene Kacandes, who led the search committee that selected Tengatenga, said the group unanimously placed him at the top of a list of candidates sent to the Provost's Office. Tengatenga's global work in combating HIV/AIDS to supporting democracy initiatives will aid him in the position, she said.
"We will learn a lot from him and his experiences," she said. "It is a two way process. He will learn from us, and we will learn from him."
Kacandes attributed the uproar following Tengatenga's appointment to his quotes being taken out of context. Tengatenga was previously quoted expressing his church's views, not his personal beliefs, she said.
The same-sex marriage position that Tengatenga expressed in Thursday's statement does not correspond with the views of the Anglican church in Malawi or the country's laws.
Tengatenga said that Bible passages emphasizing respect and common decency outweigh those against homosexuality. As such, he said, all human beings deserve equal treatment.
"The interpretation of the Bible is not based on one person or one denomination," he said. "What is important is what the scriptures say about the value of a human being. It says they are all equal. One must place more value on this than on the few negative scriptures that are in the Bible."
Tengatenga said his view on homosexuality has changed over time and that forming friendships with gay acquaintances contributed to his current position.
Tengatenga said he has consistently advocated against violence toward LGBT individuals. Over the last two years, he said the Malawi government has tried to expand basic human rights to all Malawians, regardless of their sexual orientation.
His experiences living in non-religious communities and teaching at the University of Malawi taught Tengatenga to be open to people with beliefs different from his own.
"I do not impose my religion and faith on other people," he said. "Bringing good and doing good on others is an innate human quality, whether or not one is religious."
At Dartmouth, Tengatenga plans to continue the College's moral leadership and social engagement with world issues.
"I am a human being that wants to do justice and right to all," he said. "That is what I fought for in Malawi the right for life, food and dignity for all people. I fight against discrimination. That is my life challenge."
On Nov. 5, the Malawian government briefly repealed [laws](http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/08/ozatp-malawi-gays-idAFJOE8A702I20121108http://www.malawilii.org/files/mw/legislation/consolidated-act/7:01/penalcodepdf_14611.pdf) that criminalized same-sex relations, but days later, churches pressured the government to reinstate the laws, Bronski said.
As a community leader, Tengatenga should have done more to support the rights of homosexuals, Bronski said.
"Even if he was not part of the churches that forced them back in place, that is not enough for me," Bronski said. "He should have fought to get rid of those laws. Unless he was actively trying to get rid of those laws that criminalized same-sex behavior, I would consider him homophobic."
The global Anglican Communion has faced internal conflict over LGBT rights, said Adrienne Clay, African and African-American studies department program coordinator.
If Tengatenga supports LGBT rights, Clay said his views would align with many American and Canadian Episcopalians, as well as with recent comments by South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who called homophobia a crime against humanity and compared the injustice of marginalizing one group of individuals to apartheid.
"Although Tengatenga's new statement strikes some encouraging notes, it seems very polished and a little too ambiguous for my taste," Clay wrote in an email. "How do we measure Tengatenga? By a statement directed to a college audience in the U.S. or by his words and actions, as well as inaction, over the past decade?"
The Dartmouth NAACP chapter remains concerned with Tengatenga's appointment, Terry said.
While the chapter is encouraged by portions of Tengatenga's new statement, it called for increased communication between Tengatenga and the community to discuss his vision for Tucker and seemingly sudden change in stance on LGBT rights.
"Merely stating support for equality is insufficient," Terry said. "Dartmouth's new spiritual spokesperson must be a vigorous advocate for the rights ofallmembers of the Dartmouth community, in word and deed."
Elena Karis '15, an intern for the office of religious and spiritual life, said Tengatenga's views on homosexuality may have evolved, and that despite his recent statement, she expects he will face criticism when he arrives on campus.
Nick Parillo '15, Hillel vice president of religion, said he was confused as to why the administration chose a controversial candidate for the dean's position, especially after the spring term protests that addressed homophobia on campus.
"The statement released was a classical non-apology apology," Parillo said. "He needs to address what he has said and done in the past and why he has changed his views. Instead, he is just talking about what he has done and what his current views are."
The Rev. Guy Collins, rector of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Hanover, said that before yesterday's statement, he worried that Tengatenga's views could present a problem, as New Hampshire's Anglican Church welcomes the LGBT community.
He said he was less apprehensive after yesterday.
"I think it is fabulous," he said. "He has made it very clear that he has changed perspectives."
Retired music professor Jon Appleton, who taught at the College for 38 years, said that he had never seen the administration make such a "severe mistake" when hiring a new dean.
He said Tengatenga's statement did not change his opinion on the appointment, as he did not believe the reverend could alter his views so quickly. He noted that Tengatenga had made comments against homosexuality as recently as two years ago.
Will Raymer '09 said Tengatenga's appointment represented a failure in judgment by the College, which either did not realize Tengatenga's earlier stances or did not think them significant, both of which are troubling, he said.
"The statement he released is a step in the right direction, but it needs to come with a better approach on his part and the administration's part," Raymer said. "It will take a lot of work with the LGBT community to make sure his actions as dean of the Tucker Foundation speak as loud as his words."
Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Maria Laskaris and government professor James Muirhead, both members of the search committee, and the Rev. Michael Thomas could not be reached for comment. Hillel executive director Rabbi Edward Boraz declined to comment.
