To the 51 Community:
As we look toward the 2024–25 academic year, I am pleased to announce recently appointed and continuing academic-administrative leadership for the coming year.
In the Division of Arts and Humanities, Yukari Hirata will begin her term as division director. There are three new chairs: Geoff Benson (Classics), Scott Mehl (East Asian Language and Literatures; John Crespi will serve in the fall), and Ryan Chase (Music). They join continuing chairs Elizabeth Marlowe (Art), Lynn Staley (English), Matthew Miller (German), Maura Tumulty (Philosophy), Georgia Frank (Religion), Hélène Julien (Romance Languages and Literatures), and April Sweeney (Theater).
In the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (Rick Geier, director), there is one new chair: Aubreya Adams (Earth and Environmental Geosciences). She joins Geoff Holm (Biology), Jason Keith (Chemistry), Aaron Gember-Jacobson (Computer Science), Aaron Robertson (Mathematics), Jeff Bary (Physics and Astronomy), Julia Martinez (Psychological and Brain Sciences), and Wan-chun Liu (Neuroscience).
In the Division of Social Sciences, Rob Nemes will begin a term as division director. There is one new chair: Janel Benson (Sociology and Anthropology). She joins Nicole Simpson (Economics), Susan Woolley (Educational Studies), Bill Meyer (Geography), Dan Bouk (History), Valerie Morkevičius (Political Science), and Danielle Lupton (International Relations).
In the Division of University Studies (Chris Henke, director), new University Professors include Ben Child (Core Conversations, starting spring 2025), and Jennifer Tomlinson (Core Sciences, starting spring 2025). New directors include Kezia Page (Africana and Latin American Studies), Yang Song (Asian Studies), Monica Facchini (Film and Media Studies), Spencer Kelly (Linguistics), and Jenna Reinbold (Native American Studies), as well as Ynesse Abdul-Malak (coordinator of Caribbean Studies in ALST). They join continuing University Professors Meg Worley (Core Conversations, fall 2024), Teo Ballvé (Core Communities), Anthony Chianese (Liberal Arts Practices), Priscilla Van Wynsberghe (Core Sciences, fall 2024), and Alexander Karn (First Year Seminars/Living and Learning Workshop).
Meg Worley will continue as chair of the Department of Writing and Rhetoric. Continuing program directors include Mike Loranty (Environmental Studies), Bineyam Taye (Global Public and Environmental Health), Noah Dauber (Jewish Studies), Danny Barreto (LGBTQ Studies), Alan Cooper (Medieval and Renaissance Studies), Noor Khan (Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies), Elizabeth Marlowe (Museum Studies), Jacob Mundy (Peace and Conflict Studies), Mieka Erley (Russian and Eurasian Studies), Nimanthi Rajasingham (Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies), as well as Brenda Sanya (African American coordinator in ALST), Rebecca Upton (African Studies coordinator in ALST), and Osvaldo Sandoval Leon (Latin American coordinator ALST).
Yariv Amir, vice president and director of athletics, will continue to represent
the Division of Physical Education, Recreation, and Athletics on the Dean’s
Advisory Council.
Faculty members will also be pleased to know that the Committee on Faculty Affairs has elected Eddie Watkins as chairperson of the FAC for this coming academic year.
Office of the Provost and Dean of the Faculty
Doug Johnson, William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, will continue his service in the dean’s office as Dean of Academic and Curricular Affairs. Christian DuComb, Christian A. Johnson Professor of Theater, will continue as Associate Dean of the Faculty for Recruitment and Development; and April Baptiste will continue as Associate Dean of the Faculty for Global and Local Initiatives. In addition, Carolyn Hsu will begin a term as Associate Provost for Equity and Diversity.
Jason Meyers and Paul Humphrey will continue to serve as parliamentarian and co-parliamentarian, respectively.
To those who have completed their appointments, please accept our — and my — deep appreciation and sincere gratitude for your significant contributions to 51 and our academic programs.
Sincerely,
Lesleigh R. Cushing
Provost and Dean of the Faculty