The Search for the next dean of the College of Letters & Science

In July 2012, Dean Gary Sandefur announced he will step down from his post at the end of the 2012-13 upcoming academic year.

Sandefur, who has headed the College of Letters & Science since August 2004, will go on research leave for a year, then return to the faculty of the Department of Sociology. He plans to eventually retire and move to Oklahoma with his wife, Kathy, where they both grew up and still have family.

Prior to his service as dean, Sandefur was a professor of sociology, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, as well as the director of the American Indian Studies Program.

A search and screen committee, chaired by Zoology Chair and Professor Jeff Hardin, was appointed in December 2012. In addition to Hardin, there are eight faculty members from the College of Letters & Science, two student representatives (one undergraduate and one graduate), two academic staff members, two classified staff members, one campus dean and one community representative.

For more information:

 

Members of the L&S Dean Search and Screen Committee:


Chair
  • Jeff Hardin, professor and chair of zoology

Faculty
  • Amy Barger, professor of astronomy 
  • Leslie Bow, professor of English and Asian American studies 
  • Kristin Eschenfelder, professor of library and information studies 
  • Jo Ellen Fair, professor of journalism and mass communication 
  • Bob Hamers, professor of chemistry 
  • Ananth Seshadri, professor of economics 
  • Scott Straus, professor of political science 
  • Manon van de Water, professor of theatre and drama 

Academic staff
  • Allison Kaplan, faculty associate in library and information studies 
  • José J. Madera, assistant dean in Letters & Science Student Academic Affairs and assistant director of the Academic Advancement Program 

Classified staff
  • Alice Halfen, financial specialist in atmospheric and oceanic sciences 
  • Teresa Nealon, academic department specialist in East Asian languages and literature Students
  • Rubén Casas, doctoral candidate in English 
  • Jacob Steiner, junior majoring in political science 

Administration and community members
  • Michael Spector, former president of the UW System Board of Regents 
  • Kathryn VandenBosch, dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

Make a gift in honor of Dean Sandefur

Established by the L&S Board of Visitors, the Gary Sandefur Tribute Fund will be used by future deans to advance the liberal arts mission of the College, particularly in ways that recognize Dean Sandefur’s legacy of recruiting and retaining outstanding faculty.

Make a gift to the Gary Sandefur Tribute Fund