Dear colleagues,

As the time comes for my monthly update to this community, it feels like a school of Arts and Sciences is really taking shape. The leadership team is almost fully in place, following the recent appointment of Scott Pauls as Interim Dean of Undergraduate Education and a transition plan in place for the Dean of the Faculty role.

Today, I am delighted to share that Co-Interim Dean of the College Anne Hudak has agreed to continue serving our students and A&S as the Interim Dean of Undergraduate Student Affairs (DUSA). This will maintain strong divisional leadership for Student Affairs in the new school and help us bridge the gap between now and the appointment of the permanent dean.

Anne brings a wealth of knowledge to this role from her tenure as Associate Dean of Student Support Services and as Co-interim Dean of the College, where she has demonstrated her steadfast commitment to Dartmouth and our students again and again. I am very appreciative of Anne remaining at the helm during this period of transition. Meanwhile, Co-interim Dean of the College Eric Ramsey will be departing Dartmouth at the end of June for a new role at his alma mater, the University of Arkansas. I am incredibly grateful for Eric’s ongoing service to Dartmouth and wish him all the best in his next step.

Concurrent to Anne’s extension, we are advancing the search for a permanent Dean of Undergraduate Student Affairs. Kristi Clemens, executive director of Dialogue Initiatives, and Matthew Delmont, associate dean of International and Interdisciplinary Studies, will chair a search committee comprised of faculty, staff, and students who will bring their diverse perspectives and experiences to bear. See below for the full membership. We have also partnered with WittKiefer, a search firm known for executive role placement within higher education. Committee members will host and attend listening sessions with you to better understand the qualities we need in the new DUSA. We will share dates and times for those sessions soon.

Meanwhile, the Implementation Committee is finalizing an approach to transitioning teams from their current organizational positions to the new school. With Scott and Anne assuming their roles, we’re getting ready to officially launch the school’s two new divisions on July 1. In practice, this means that staff within each new division will start working together under the leadership of their respective deans, who will be communicating with their staff directly about any changes as we approach July. Operational support transitions (for example, finance and HR support for each new A&S unit) will begin later this summer and continue into next year. I’ll be providing updates as the Implementation Committee rolls out further changes in a way that is least disruptive to all of us.

Thank you for your collaboration. As always, I’m available if you have questions or input on our continued A&S implementation efforts. I’m happy to touch base over email or coffee! And I hope to see many of you at our rescheduled Wentworth Walk, now taking place Tuesday, June 3 at noon.

Warmly,

Nina Pavcnik

Interim Dean of Arts and Sciences

Dean of Undergraduate Student Affairs Search Committee
Kristi Clemens (Chair), Executive Director of Dialogue Initiatives
Matthew Delmont (Chair), Associate Dean of Interdisciplinary and International Studies
Karen Afre, Director of the Academic Skills Center
Bridget Colacchio, Director of Family Support
Sergi Elizade, Professor of Mathematics
Rachele Hall, Director of the Office of Pluralism & Leadership
Stacey Millard, Associate Dean for Residential Life
Seun Bello Olamosu, Director for International Student Experience
David Pack, Director of Student Involvement
Mark Reed, Director of the Health Service at Dick’s House
Melanie Taylor, Professor of English & Creative Writing; Native American Studies, North House Professor
Holly Wilkinson, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs in Thayer School of Engineering
Lydia Jin ’26, Student