End-of-the-Year Report from the Dean
Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues in Arts & Sciences:
Thank you once again for your hard work and dedication to helping our students over the past academic year. Despite continued fiscal pressures, you have done an excellent job.
As I leave the College to take up my next post in Pennsylvania, I am grateful for the many kindnesses and rewards that come with being a part of this wonderful community. This past semester provided a superb example of our community values. On Friday, March 11, Japan experienced one of the most devastating natural disasters of modern times. By the following Tuesday, a group of faculty, students, and staff convened the first meeting of what became the W&M Japan Recovery Initiative, which has since held various fundraisers, offered knowledgeable guidance through its website on how to help Japan, and attracted favorable and deserved publicity to the College. I congratulate Hiroshi Kitamura, Associate Professor of History and co-director of the East Asian Studies Program, and other campus leaders for stepping up in this way. It is gratifying to know that these values will continue to inspire the College.
New Appointments in the Dean's Office
I am pleased to announce the following new appointments in the Dean's Office:
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Please join me in welcoming Kelly and Guilia to the Dean’s Office.
I also want to add a special thanks to Sue Peterson for her dedicated service over the last six years. In dealing with myriad student concerns, transfer issues, Academic Advising, New Student Orientation, the adjunct/SSRL budget, and a host of faculty concerns, she has done a remarkable job. I am grateful for her leadership and wish her well.
We are currently searching to fill two positions, the Administrative Assistant to the Office of the Dean, a position previously held by Annette Arbogast, and the Administrative Assistant/Budget Manager for the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Dean for Educational Policy, a position previously held by Debbie Eck, who has taken a position in the Department of Sociology. We wish Annette and Debbie well and thank them for their service to Arts & Sciences.
Faculty Recognition
A number of Arts & Sciences faculty members have won awards or professorships and deserve our hearty congratulations:
Margaret Hamilton Professorships:
- 玛丽se Fauvel, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
- Jennifer M. Mellor, Department of Economics
Wilson and Martha Claiborne Stephens Distinguished Associate Professorship:
- Hainang Wang, Department of Computer Science
Robert and Sarah Boyd Distinguished Associate Professorship:
- Vassiliki Panoussi, Department of Classical Studies
Class of 1964 Distinguished Associate Professorship:
- Diane Shakes, Department of Biology
University Professorships for Teaching Excellence:
- Elizabeth Harbron, Department of Chemistry
- Robert T. Vinson, Department of History
Weingartner Professorship in International Studies:
- Paula Pickering, Department of Government
Coco Faculty Fellows and Dean’s Distinguished Lecturers:
- Robin Looft-Wilson, Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
- Simon Stow, Associate Professor, Department of Government
Arts & Sciences Awards for Faculty Governance:
- Katherine Kulick, Associate Professor of French and Francophone Studies, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
- Barbette Spaeth, Associate Professor, Department of Classical Studies
Arts & Sciences Faculty Awards for Teaching Excellence:
- Liz Allison, Professor and Chair, Department of Biology
- Dennis Smith, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Government
- Jim Whittenburg, Pullen Professor, Department of History
Plumeri Fellowships:
- Arnab K. Basu, Economics
- Christopher D. Carone, Physics
- Rachel DiNitto, Modern Languages and Literatures
- John D. Griffin, Biology and Neuroscience
- Christopher D. Howard, Government and Public Policy
- Rex K. Kincaid, Mathematics
- Lisa M. Landino, Chemistry
- Christopher J. MacGowan, English
- Scott R. Nelson, History
- John H. Oakley, Classical Studies
- Gul Ozyegin, Sociology and Women’s Studies
- John C. Poutsma, Chemistry
- Marc T. Sher, Physics
- Sarah L. Stafford, Economics and Public Policy
Department Chairs and Program Directors
A very large number of faculty members have completed terms as department chairs or program directors or are taking on new responsibilities as chairs or directors. All of us owe a debt of thanks to those who serve in these administrative capacities.
- Maureen Fitzgerald, Director of American Studies, replaced by Chandos Brown
- Brian Kreydatus, Chair of Art and Art History, replaced by Catherine Levesque
- Will Hausman, Chair of Economics, replaced by David Feldman
- John Swaddle, Director of Environmental Science and Policy, replaced by Randy Chambers
- Brent Owens, Chair of Geology, replaced by Chuck Bailey
- Phil Daileader, Chair of History, replaced by Leisa Meyer
- Ken Kambis, Chair of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, replaced by Michael Deschesnes
- Colleen Kennedy, Director of Literary and Cultural Studies and Film Studies, replaced by Ann Marie Stock
- Tom Payne, Chair of Music, replaced by Anne Rasmussen
- John Griffin, Director of Neuroscience, replaced by Josh Burke
- Keith Griffioen, Chair of Physics, replaced by David Armstrong
- Connie Pilkington, Chair of Psychology, replaced by Janice Zeman
- Tom Linneman, Chair of Sociology, replaced by Kay Jenkins
- Christy Burns, Director of Women’s Studies, replaced by Gul Ozyegin
Faculty Governance
Several faculty members have completed significant tasks in faculty governance:
- Liz Allison, Chair of Biology, and Phil Daileader, Chair of History, served as Co-Chairs of the Dean’s Advisory Council, and have been succeeded by Chris Abelt, Chair of Chemistry, and Joan Gavaler, Chair of Theatre, Speech, and Dance.
- 玛丽se Fauvel, Professor of Modern Languages and Literatures, completed two years as Chair of the Retention, Promotion, and Tenure Committee. RPT will select a new chair next year.
- Sophia Serghi, Associate Professor of Music, served as Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee, and has been succeeded by J.C. Poutsma, Professor of Chemistry.
Last Words and a Welcome to Dean Tracy
Once again, I want to thank all of you for your hard work and dedication to Arts & Sciences. It has been an honor to work with you. As I pass on my responsibilities to Gene Tracy, I am confident that you will welcome him and support him as you have me over the past seven years. Gene and I have been meeting regularly over the past several months, and he has been increasingly involved in our decision-making. I know you will help him make a smooth transition into the position of Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences.
Best wishes for a restful and productive summer,
Carl J. Strikwerda
Dean of Arts & Sciences
