Dear colleagues,
I am writing to update you on some changes in our administrative structure that will help us better serve undergraduate students, advance faculty research, and strengthen staff infrastructure.
After her two years serving in interim roles, I'm delighted to share that Anne Hudak will transition to a new role at the cabinet level of Arts and Sciences as Dean for Undergraduate Experience and Strategic Initiatives. In this new role, Anne will serve as a key adviser and strategist, providing leadership on cross-divisional projects that shape the undergraduate student experience. She drives institutional change by partnering across A&S and beyond to align student-facing services with strategic priorities, ensuring a coherent educational journey. Anne's thoughtful leadership on the advising model and the Academic Support Framework, both of which she helped advance before the school was developed and that she continues to support today, speaks to the strategic vision she will continue to bring to this expanded role.
When Maria Anderson departed Dartmouth, I updated you that we would not be looking to fill that role until the summer. Over the past six months, we have found that expanding the responsibilities of existing staff, drawing on their Dartmouth-specific knowledge and experiences, positions us well to continue to advance the work of our unified School.
Kate Soule, who has served as our interim CFO since January, has officially stepped into the role of Chief Financial Officer for the school. Kate has been a steady and trusted partner in building the budgetary and financial processes a unified school requires. Kate will continue to oversee Budget Planning and Analysis and Financial Services, alongside her longstanding work in the Division of Faculty. Her deep institutional knowledge and careful stewardship give us a strong foundation as we shift from building the school to realizing its priorities.
Katie Watkins, chief of staff for Arts and Sciences, is formalizing her expanded role as the Senior Associate Dean for Strategy and Operations. Over the past year, Katie has been a pivotal partner in bridging and unifying the structures of the school, and her role now brings together Human Resources, Buildings and Facilities, and IT under a single operational vision. That vision includes our newly established Arts and Sciences IT team, a structure recommended by the A&S and ITC Advisory Committee.
Leading that new IT team is Amy Hunt, who steps into the role of Executive Director of Arts and Sciences IT. Amy brings two decades of experience supporting the technology needs of student affairs, and she has already been a consistent and effective advocate for the school’s broader technology needs. She will be sharing more information about her team and how to be in touch with them in the coming weeks.
As we look ahead to the fall term, I am excited about piloting a new faculty advising system, embedding liberal arts advisors within the House Communities to serve as the primary academic advisors during a student's first two years of pre-major study at Dartmouth. In the coming weeks, we'll also share ways to get involved in New Student Orientation, and I encourage you to find a way to contribute.
Together, these changes reflect the kind of integrated approach to our academic mission we have been working to build. I look forward to sharing more with you in the months ahead and to our continued collaboration in the new academic year.
Warmly,
Nina Pavcnik
Dean of Arts and Sciences