Dear Arts and Sciences faculty and staff,

A month into my time as interim dean, I want to provide my first update on implementation planning for the new school of Arts and Sciences, along with a few of my observations so far.

It may feel difficult to focus on a long-term transition at a time of so much immediate uncertainty nationally and globally. But it’s important that we continue to advance our research and teaching mission and keep doing our work. To that end, the more I talk with all of you, the more convinced I become that the successful build-out of this new school will position Dartmouth well to respond nimbly to fast-changing events and to help all of us do our best work.

My goal over the next 18 months is to establish functioning structures and processes as described in the A&S proposal so that, in the fall of 2026, the inaugural dean can hit the ground running, focused on a future of elevating the Arts and Sciences. Just as important, my goal is to make this transition in such a way that all of you can continue to do your best work without interruption, whether that is in teaching, research, or student support. We must not break what is working well.

I have had the chance to meet with many of you in recent weeks, and I hope to meet with every division and office, as well as any interested departments, before summer arrives. One of our shared tasks is to articulate clear priorities for A&S along two tracks. First, I want to better understand what parts of the implementation process are most critical and urgent to you. Second, I want to continue to articulate, with all of you, our shared priorities for advancing the core work of Arts and Sciences. In addition to meeting with you, I encourage you to submit input or questions about the implementation of A&S.

We’ve made important progress in recent weeks in assembling the leadership team that will guide the A&S integration. This week we will launch an Implementation Committee, with whom I will work to establish the new, unified school. They will contribute to strategic decision-making that will advance implementation and identify and mitigate cross-functional risks. The committee is made up of members of the Dean’s Cabinet, representatives from the A&S faculty and staff, Thayer, and other key functional areas.

I continue to work closely with Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Elizabeth F. Smith and Interim Deans of the College Anne Hudak and Eric Ramsey. Together, we will ensure the smoothest possible transition to Professor John Carey’s leadership as he steps in as Interim Dean of the Faculty on Sept. 1. In the coming months, I will also appoint an Interim Dean of Undergraduate Education and Interim Dean of Undergraduate Student Affairs. Starting today, I welcome your nominations for the Dean of Undergraduate Education. I will provide information on the search for the Dean of Student Affairs in the next few weeks.

Creating a new school is a tall order, and it will require all of us to engage in different ways as we proceed. We all have roles to play. I encourage us to uphold two sets of principles throughout. First, we must remain focused on Dartmouth’s excellence and distinction in its core mission, as teacher-scholars, as creators of knowledge, and as professionals who shape the unique student experience in a residential college setting that has defined and distinguished this institution.

Second, we will realize those ambitions if we truly collaborate, making a conscious, committed effort to work together in new ways. The creation of the A&S proposal succeeded because of an inclusive process in which faculty and staff engaged and took ownership, exchanging and honing ideas and sharing information transparently. We will embrace that approach during implementation as well.

I will continue to reach out to you with updates—occasionally in an email like this, more often in meetings and forums that allow us to talk with each other. I encourage you to reach out to me if you have questions or ideas. I am grateful for your partnership and excited about the next steps.

With my best regards,

Nina Pavcnik
Interim Dean of Arts and Sciences