Spring 2010 Message from the Dean
Carl Strikwerda, Dean of Arts & Sciences, sent the following end-of-year message to members of the faculty on May 16.
Dear Arts & Sciences Colleagues:
Once
again, I would like to thank you for your hard work and professionalism in
serving our students this year. Arts & Sciences succeeds in educating
generations of young people and advancing discovery and creativity only because
of your dedication to excellence. It is an honor to work with you as
colleagues.
In the face of our budgetary challenges, Arts & Sciences remains very strong in the quality of its instruction, scholarship, and governance. With a new strategic planning process in place and the worst of the recession behind us, I believe we are poised to make progress in curricular reform and investments in facilities and programs in the near future.
I would like to welcome two new staff members and mention those deserving special recognition.
Annette Arbogast has joined the Dean's Office as Administrative Assistant. Annette studied court reporting at the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa, and has worked in a wide variety of administrative positions in the United States and overseas, including the University of Iowa Hospitals and the Drug Enforcement Administration of the Department of Justice. Along with her administrative skills, she has advanced knowledge of Spanish. Annette will be responsible for the dean's calendar, support for faculty meetings, and reception for the Dean's Office.
Steve Mount has joined the Arts & Sciences Development Office as a Major Gifts Officer. Steve comes to us from Cornell University, where he served as Senior Individual Giving Associate in the Department of Principal Gifts. His development experience includes work as the Director of Major Gifts at SUNY Tompkins Cortland Community College as well as campaign planning for Historic Ithaca, Inc. He holds a B.A. degree from the University of Georgia. In addition to seeking support for priorities across Arts & Sciences, he will have responsibility for major gifts fundraising for arts departments and programs and the Muscarelle Museum.
Arts & Sciences administrative staff members have had significant milestones:
- Sylvia Stout, Budget Manager, Physics, has worked for the College an incredible 41 years.
Employee of the Month Award Recipients:
- Kathy Morgan, Psychology, November, 2009
- Sharon Palma, Modern Languages and Literatures, March, 2010
Congratulations to Sylvia, Kathy, and Sharon!
Committee Service in Arts & Sciences:
Faculty governance at the College demands significant amounts of time and energy. Besides the many hours invested in committees and advising within departments and programs, the following committees in Arts & Sciences required major commitments from their members:
- Committee on Academic Status: Monica Potkay, English (Chair); Carey Bagdassarian, Chemistry; Rachel DiNitto, Modern Languages; Pamela Hunt, Psychology; Robert Pike, Chemistry; Brad Weiss, Anthropology
- Committee on Degrees: Dean Sue Peterson (Chair); Gregory Capelli, Biology; Andrew Fisher, History; Anne Rasmussen, Music; Denise Wade, Theatre, Speech, and Dance
- Committee on Graduate Studies: Dean Laurie Sanderson (Chair); Deborah Bebout, Chemistry; Joshua Burk, Psychology; Christopher Del Negro, Applied Science; Martin Gallivan, Anthropology; Rex Kincaid, Computational Operations Research; Elaine McBeth, Public Policy; Charles McGovern, American Studies; Leisa Meyer, History; Jeffrey Nelson, Physics; Evgenia Smirni, Computer Science; Janice Zeman, Clinical Psychology; Patty Zwollo, Biology
- Committee on Honors & Interdisciplinary Studies: Dean Joel Schwartz, Charles Center (Chair); Timothy Costelloe, Philosophy; David Feldman, Economics; Beth Freeborn, Economics; Gregory Hancock, Geology; Kathrin Levitan, History; Erin Minear, English; Margaret Saha, Biology; Ann Marie Stock, Modern Languages
- Educational Policy Committee: Phil Kearns, Mathematics (Chair); Christopher Carone, Physics; Maureen Fitzgerald, Religious Studies; Carol Sheriff, History; Patricia Wesp, Theatre, Speech, and Dance; Patty Zwollo, Biology; Deans Teresa Long and Silvia Tandeciarz
- Faculty Affairs Committee: Berhanu Abegaz, Economics (Chair); Rex Kincaid, Mathematics; Sophia Serghi, Music; Kathleen Slevin, Sociology; Barbette Spaeth, Classical Studies; Gene Tracy, Physics
- Retention, Promotion, and Tenure Committee: David Armstrong, Physics (Chair); Christopher Abelt, Chemistry; Lisa Anderson, Economics; Maryse Fauvel, Modern Languages; Christopher Howard, Government; Deborah Morse, English
- Study Abroad Committee: Arnab Basu, Economics (Chair); Jennifer Bickham-Mendez, Sociology; Victoria Foster, Education; Dean Teresa Longo; Paula Pickering, Government; Regina Root, Modern Languages; Kathleen Slevin, Sociology; Silvia Tandeciarz, Modern Languages; Tuska Benes, History
Chairs, Directors, and Arts & Sciences leadership positions:
All of us owe a debt of thanks to these faculty members who have taken on positions on behalf of their colleagues.
- Carey Bagdassarian, Chemistry, Graduate Omsbudsperson, who will be suceeded by Liz Barnes, English and American Studies
- Liz Barnes, Interim Chair of English, who will be succeeded by Susan Donaldson
- Christy Burns, Women's Studies, and Keith Griffioen, Physics, Dean's Advisory Council Co- Chairs 2009, who were succeeded by Liz Allison, Biology, and Phil Daileader, History, 2010
- Phil Kearns, Chair of Computer Science, who will be succeeded by Virginia Torczon
- David Lutzer, Chair of Mathematics, who will be succeeded by Interim Chair Eric Bradley from Biology
- Terry Meyers, Interim Chair of Philosophy, who will be succeeded by Laura Ekstrom
- Marc Raphael, Chair of Religious Studies, who will be succeeded by John Morreall
- Ron St. Onge, Chair of Modern Languages and Literatures, who will be succeeded by Silvia Tandeciarz
- Brad Weiss, Chair of Anthropology, who will be succeeded by Katherine Bragdon
Faculty Awards and Recognition from the College of William and Mary:
2010 Arts & Sciences Faculty Governance Awards
- Eric Bradley, Biology
- Leisa Meyer, American Studies, History, and Women's Studies
2010 Graves Awards for Excellence in Teaching
- Joseph Galano, Psychology
- Kate Slevin, Sociology
2010 Thomas Jefferson Award for Service
- Robert Archibald, Economics
2010 Thomas Jefferson Award for Teaching
- Mark Forsyth, Biology
Phi Beta Kappa Awards
- Paul Mapp, History, Phi Beta Kappa Award for Teaching
- Graham Ousey, Sociology, Phi Beta Kappa Award for Scholarship
Alumni Association Fellowship Awards
- Tuska Benes, History
- Joshua Ehrlich, Physics
- Kathleen Jenkins, Sociology
- Elizabeth Mead, Art and Art History
Plumeri Fellowship Award Winners
- Paula Blank, Margaret L. Hamilton Professor of English
- Randy Chambers, Cornelia B. Talbot Professor of Biology
- Paul Davies, Professor of Philosophy
- Gary DeFotis, Professor of Chemistry
- Susan Donaldson, National Endowment for the Humanities Professor of English
- Maryse Fauvel, Professor of Modern Languages and Literatures
- Paul Heideman, Professor of Biology
- Lu Ann Homza, Professor of History
- Larry Leemis, Professor of Mathematics and University Teaching Professor of Excellence
- Jennifer Mellor, Class of 1955 Distinguished Associate Professor of Economics
- Jennifer Bickham Mendez, Associate Professor of Sociology
- Jeffrey Nelson. Associate Professor of Physics
- John Swaddle, Arts & Sciences Distinguished Associate Professor of Biology
Arts & Sciences Virginia Foundation for the Humanities award
- Anne Rasmussen, Music
Faculty Awards and Recognition from Agencies, Associations, and Foundations:
- Sarah Day, Mathematics, CAREER Award, National Science Foundation
- William Detmold, Physics, Outstanding Junior Investigator Award, Department of Energy
- Grey Gundaker, American Studies and Anthropology, Fellowship, W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research, Harvard University
- Matthew Haug, Philosophy, National Science Foundation Research Grant
- Chi-Kwong Li, Mathematics, Fulbright Fellowship
- Harvey Langholtz, Psychology, 2009 Peacekeeping Education and Training Award, International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centres
- Gunter Luepke, Applied Science, Department of Energy Materials Sciences and Engineering Division grant
- Ale Lukaszew, Applied Science, Nuclear Threat Reduction Agency grant
- Scott Nelson, History, Charles Warren Center Fellowship, Harvard University
- Hermine Pinson, English, Virginia Foundation for the Humanities Fellowship
- Abdul-Karim Rafeq, History, Middle East Studies Association of North America Honorary Fellow
- Brett Rushforth, History, American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship
- Xipeng Shen, Computer Science, CAREER Award, National Science Foundation
- Neal Tognazzini, Philosophy, American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship
- Patricia Vahle, Physics, CAREER Award, National Science Foundation
- Susan Webster, American Studies and Art and Art History, Fellowship, Society of Architectural Historians, and Research Grant, American Philosophical Society
Promotions to Associate Professor:
- Tuska Benes, History
- Magli Compan, Modern Languages and Literatures
- Joshua Ehrlich, Physics
- Andrew Fisher, History
- Brian Hulse, Music
- Kathleen Jenkins, Sociology
- Hiroshi Kitamura, History
- Elizabeth Mead, Art and Art History
- Todd Thrash, Psychology
- Robert Vinson, History
Promotions to Full Professor:
- Todd Averett, Physics
- Arnab Basu, Economics
- Vladimir Bolotnikov, Mathematics
- Pamela Hunt, Psychology
- Jennifer Mellor, Economics
- Graham Ousey, Sociology
- J.C. Poutsma, Chemistry
- Sarah Stafford, Economics
- Ann Marie Stock, Modern Languages and Literatures
- John Swaddle, Biology
- Janice Zeman, Psychology
Chancellor Professor:
- David Armstrong, Physics
Student Professorship:
- Carol Sheriff, Class of 2013 Professor of History
Arts & Sciences Distinguished Associate Professorships:
- William Hutton, Classical Studies
- Graham Ousey, Sociology
- Junping Shi, Mathematics
College Distinguished Term Professorships:
- Rowan Lockwood, Geology, Alfred Ritter Term Distinguished Professorship
- Jeffrey Nelson, Physics, Cornelia B. Talbot Term Distinguished Professorship
- Christine Nemacheck, Government, Alumni Memorial Term Distinguished Professorship
- Charles Palermo, Art and Art History, Alumni Memorial Term Distinguished Professorship
- Regina Root, Modern Languages and Literatures, Class of 1963 Term Distinguished Professorship
- Patty Zwollo, Biology, Vera W. Barkley Term Distinguished Professorship
Development update:
Despite the current recession, Arts & Sciences continues to make progress in fundraising. I am particularly pleased that two friends of the College, Roy Hock and Margaret Fowler, chose to honor Bill Kelso, the archeologist who discovered the remains of the Jamestown Fort and who received his M.A. in History from the College, by creating an endowed graduate fellowship, the William Kelso Graduate Fellowship in Early American Studies.
Arts & Sciences has also raised over $800,000 in a little over two years in support of the endowed Environmental Science and Policy Program's postdoctoral program. Overall, Arts & Sciences is on track to raise over $5 million this year in expendable and endowed gifts.
I thank all of you for your commitment to excellence and wish you a good summer with some time away for relaxation.
Best wishes,
Carl J. Strikwerda
Dean, Arts & Sciences
