Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues,

I am delighted to share with you that Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Environmental Studies Chris Graves will serve as the College’s next associate dean of the faculty for diversity, recruitment, and retention.
 
Chris has demonstrated through experience and service that he is well suited to take on the responsibilities of this position. He has served in various faculty leadership capacities, including as coordinator of the Environmental Studies Program, president of Sigma Xi, and Faculty Secretary. He is a regular contributor to diversity and inclusion efforts and has served on the Natural Sciences and Engineering Inclusive Excellence Faculty Working Group and the LGBTQ+ Faculty Staff Advisory Board.  Chris regularly demonstrates an appreciation for others’ ideas and perspectives, both in and out of the classroom. For example, he has served as a convener of a Teaching and Learning Center Inquiry Group as well as a co-convener for this year's Faculty Staff Book Group. His candid, collaborative, and creative approach to his work will help us continue to innovate, improve, and live up to our ideals.

Chris will assume this new role on July 1, succeeding Associate Professor of Computer Science Ameet Soni. I am deeply appreciative of Ameet’s innumerable contributions to the College while serving in this role the past four years, and I look forward to celebrating him and his service to the College later this spring.

I’d also like to express my appreciation to all of our colleagues who were willing to allow their names to go forward for service to the College in this way and to the faculty for their nominations and participation. I am grateful to the members of the ad hoc search committee — Professor of French & Francophone Studies Jean-Vincent Blanchard (chair),  Associate Professor of Economics Maria Pia Olivero and Associate Professor of Biology Jose Louis Machado for the time, energy, and care they invested in this process.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Howard
Acting Provost & Dean of the Faculty
Edward Hicks Magill Professor of Mathematics & Natural Sciences and Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry