SKIP TO PAGE CONTENT

School of Arts and Sciences Becomes School of Arts, Sciences, and Education

Interim Dean Named for School of Arts, Sciences and Education

As part of an ongoing effort to streamline operations, increase interdisciplinary opportunities and create better alignment for grants, strategic planning and professional development, the Division of Education is now joining the School of Arts and Sciences. With the addition of the Division of Education, the School will become the University’s largest, consisting of four divisions: Communication, Media and Arts (CMA), Education, Humanities and Mathematics and Sciences. 

“As we build Walsh 4.0, we need to think strategically about the future and how we can best leverage our resources,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs Mike Dunphy, Ph.D. “Adding the Division of Education to the School of Arts, Sciences and Education will make the Division more visible and encourage more direct collaborations between our very talented faculty.”

Jacqueline Novak, Ph.D., the current Chair of the Division of Mathematics and Sciences, has been appointed Interim Dean of the School of Arts, Sciences and Education for one year as the University conducts a national search to replace the School’s previous dean, Katherine Brown, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Chemistry, Neil Walsh, Ph.D. will assume duties as Chair of the Division of Mathematics and Sciences in the interim to fill the vacancy left by Dr. Novak’s appointment to Interim Dean.

Below is a list of the Divisional Chairs in the School of Arts, Sciences and Education divisions who will report directly to Dr. Novak:

  • Division of Communication, Media and Arts – Chair, Dr. Mark Rogers 
  • Division of Education – Chair, Dr. Gary Jacobs 
  • Division of Humanities – Chair, Dr. Chris Seeman
  • Division of Mathematics and Sciences – Interim Chair, Dr. Neil Walsh

In addition, the following appointments have also been made for the 2022-23 academic year:

Kelsey Scanlon, Ph.D., recently hired to replace Kelton Mehls, Ph.D. will start in August and will serve as the Division Chair for Exercise Science. Mark Rogers, Ph.D. will become Chair of the Division of Communication, Media and Arts (replacing several past divisions) and Jeff Warnke, Ph.D. will assume responsibility as Director of Graduate Studies in Education.

Gary Jacobs, Ph.D. is stepping in for Jean DeFazio, Ph.D., who retired in May 2022, and Jeff Warnke, Ph.D. is replacing David Brobeck, Ph.D., who retired in fall 2021.

“I am delighted to have such a strong leadership team in place for our divisions and schools,” said Dr. Dunphy. “We have substantial important work to do going forward, and I am looking forward to engaging our faculty, staff and leadership teams to really advance academics at Walsh to help us gain momentum and serve our students relative to our mission.”