Dean Fairfield-Sonn to Step Down Dean James Fairfield-Sonn notified the Barney community and President Harrison that he plans to step down as dean of the Barney School on June 30, 2013. Dean Fairfield-Sonn has served in that capacity since July 2004, when he was appointed interim dean. He was named dean in May 2005. Dean Fairfield-Sonn has been a member of the Barney faculty since 1982.He will return as a member of the Barney faculty in January 2014. Read more, including Barney's advancemnets and improvements under Fairfield-Sonn's leadership.