Colleagues,
I write today to provide you with updates on the Deans of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of the Arts, and the College of Urban and Public Affairs.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
As you know, we began the process of identifying the next Dean of CLAS last fall with a national search. Because we were not able to come to closure from that process, we shifted gears to consider the strong internal candidates who are at PSU. Thanks to all of you for your patience as we went through this important process, and in particular, for your participation as we assessed all of the candidates. Your feedback has been insightful, thoughtful, and pivotal to our process.
I am very pleased to say that I offered the position of Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to Associate Dean Todd Rosenstiel and that he has enthusiastically accepted.
During the search process, Todd was identified for having many strengths that he will bring to this role. In addition to his deep knowledge of and past contributions to CLAS, Todd was praised for his sense of vision for the future of CLAS and his ability to articulate that vision to internal and external audiences both. He also is recognized for having the fiscal skills that will be needed to lead CLAS through the complex budget climate that the college and the university are experiencing.
I want to thank Matt Carlson, Interim Dean of CLAS, for his extraordinary service to the college and to the university during this past eighteen months. Matt has led the college through a difficult period of budget reductions and, most recently, our response to COVID-19. Throughout this period, he has been a champion of transparency, evidence-based decision-making, and commitment to students. I know you all join me in thanking him for his work on behalf of and commitment to CLAS. I have asked Matt to continue to provide leadership on behalf of student success by continuing as Co-chair of the Students First Academic Success Committee.
I want to acknowledge the important work that was done by the CLAS Dean Search Committee. The committee's commitment to CLAS showed in the members' willingness to serve as this process shifted gears from a national to an internal search and then from an in-person process to a remote one. We all owe them a debt of gratitude for their service to CLAS and to the university. In particular, I want to express my thanks to David Bangsberg, Dean of the OHSU/PSU School of Public Health, for his service as chair of this committee. David's dedication to CLAS and to the success of this process was evident throughout. In addition, I want to thank Nancy Goldman, who provided support to the committee and the candidates through this process. As always, Nancy is the best ambassador any university could ever have. I list all of the committee members below so that they can be recognized for their service:
- David Bangsberg, Search Chair - Founding Dean, OHSU/PSU School of Public Health
- Suzanne Estes - Associate Professor, Biology
- Linda George - Professor, Environmental Science and Management, Interim Director, UNST
- Christina Gildersleeve-Neumann - Professor and Chair, Speech and Hearing Sciences
- Catherine Ingvaldsen - Senior Director of Development, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Isabel Jaen-Portillo - Professor, World Languages and Literatures; PSU Senate Presiding Officer, 2019-20
- Terry Pinnell - PSU Alumni, PSU Foundation Board Trustee
- Jason Podrabsky - Professor, Biology, Interim Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies
- Ellen Skinner - Professor and Chair, Psychology
- Ted Van Alst - Associate Professor and Director, Indigenous Nations Studies
- Rachel Webb - Senior Instructor II, Mathematics and Statistics
- Bassam Hadad - Ph.D. student, Chemistry
Todd's appointment as Dean of CLAS will begin on September 1, 2020. I know that you will join me in congratulating him and the College on this appointment and in thanking Matt for his service.
College of the Arts
Earlier this term, I sought feedback from faculty, staff, and stakeholder groups in the College of the Arts as Dean Leroy Bynum, Jr. is in the last year of his current appointment as Dean of COTA. Feedback from various surveys and personal conversations highlighted a number of Dean Bynum's key strengths, including his enthusiastic advocacy for COTA and for the arts in general in Portland; his leadership in diversity and inclusion; his inspirational and collaborative spirit; and his effective management of the college's budget. Based on this very positive review, I offered Leroy reappointment for a second term as Dean of the College of the Arts. I am extremely pleased to announce today that he has accepted this offer and will serve through June 30, 2025. I know you will join me in congratulating Dean Bynum on his reappointment and in expressing our appreciation for his continued leadership. I am particularly grateful for Leroy's continued wisdom and strong leadership during this challenging period for PSU. I know that the future of the College of the Arts is a positive one under his leadership.
College of Urban and Public Affairs
The recent announcement by the Board of Trustees that Steve Percy was appointed as President has an impact on CUPA in that it clarifies that Steve will not return to CUPA to serve as Dean. While we undertake conversations about the next dean of CUPA, Sy Adler has agreed to continue serving in that role for the coming year. I am grateful for his continued leadership of CUPA and for the wisdom he brings to our institutional conversations as we discuss the many challenges PSU is facing at this time. Sy's term as Interim Dean will continue through June 31, 2021. I know that you join me in thanking him for his continued leadership and service.
Best,
Susan Jeffords, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
