Dean of Faculty Search Committee

August 31, 2021

Dear Colleagues, 

After consulting with the faculty and staff in Academic Affairs through surveys, a nomination process and some faculty forums, and with the close collaboration of the Faculty Conference Committee (FCC), I am pleased to announce the Search Committee charged with identifying our next dean of faculty. I express my gratitude to all those who have agreed to serve, as well as to the FCC for all of the work they have done, independently and in partnership, to move this process forward.

Amber Douglas, Dean of the College, will co-chair the search committee with another faculty member selected from those serving on the Committee. Kijua Sanders McMurtry, vice president for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, will be the other Cabinet member on the search committee.

The faculty members appointed to the Search Committee will be joined by two staff from the division of  Academic Affairs. The list of those who have agreed to serve is below:

• Katherine Aidala, Physics
• James Harold, Philosophy
• KC Haydon, Psychology and Education
• Cara Lapenas, Spanish, Latina/o and Latin American Studies and Staff Council
• Chrissa Lindahl, LITS/RIS
• Jacquelyne Luce, Gender Studies
• Vanessa Rosa, Spanish, Latina/o and Latin American Studies
• Dylan Shepardson, Mathematics and Statistics
• Lucas Wilson, Economics and Africana Studies

As you can see, we have tried very hard to secure representation across the divisions and across ranks, to include a range of experiences and voices, and to bring together those with significant experience of the College  (including experience of search, faculty governance and staff representation) with those newer to our community or to this work. We will be reviewing proposals for search firms shortly, and will begin the search as soon as we have appointed a partner.

There will be opportunities for faculty and staff to meet with candidates as the search gets underway. Thank you all for the thoughtful and candid feedback, and for the many suggestions and nominations received over the course of the last few months. 

Sincerely,

Sonya