Date: March 31, 2021
Memorandum to: Arts and Science Community
From: Antonio Merlo, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science
Re: Graduate School of Arts and Science Dean Search
As you know, at a moment’s notice and in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic, Susan Antón stepped into the role of Interim Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) this past fall. She did so without hesitation, and we owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude for her leadership and service over the course of these uncertain times.
Having successfully navigated GSAS through the worst of the pandemic, Susan has expressed a desire to return to her vital work on diversity, equity, and inclusion. As such, we will initiate the search for the next Dean of GSAS. Susan has graciously agreed to remain Interim Dean until the search is completed. Moreover, at my request, she has agreed to chair the search committee.
Given the timing, we are launching the search immediately with a call for internal nominations. Given the abundance of talent in Arts and Science, we believe that our next Dean of GSAS is among our amazing community. Should this not materialize, we will launch a broader search.
I am pleased to announce the formation of an ad hoc committee to advise on the selection of the next Dean of GSAS:
Susan Antón, Chair (Anthropology)
Jasna Brujic (Physics)
Brigid Cohen (Music)
Patrick Egan (Politics)
André Fenton (Neural Science)
John Fousek (International Relations)
David Giovanella (GSAS)
John Halpin (Chemistry)
Elizabeth McHenry (English)
Sarah Phillips (PhD student representative)
Michelle Saavedra (Master’s student representative)
Ellen Schall (Senior Presidential Fellow)
The committee welcomes, and will keep in the strictest confidence, expressions of interest, nominations and suggestions from all members of the University community. The successful applicant will be a Full Professor. Nominations and other communications should be submitted by emailing the committee at GSASdeansearch@nyu.edu. Please submit nominations no later than April 15, 2021. Applications, which must include a letter of interest and a CV, are due April 30, 2021.
The letter of interest must address the following five questions:
What do you see as the key issues or difficulties to developing pathways to and within graduate education for individuals from underserved and marginalized populations? As the head of GSAS, what strategies would you use to foster diversity, inclusion and belonging among our graduate students and staff?
How would you assess student success for doctoral students and for master’s students, both while they are enrolled at NYU and after they graduate? What approach would you follow to support graduate students who are struggling?
How would you support departments/programs in providing best practice around issues of mentoring graduate students and conflict resolution? What structures could GSAS develop to address issues that arise from differences in power between faculty, staff and graduate students? Would you follow a different approach for small versus large programs? For master’s or doctoral programs?
What strategies would you use to foster program and curricular development and training opportunities within and across departments of Arts and Science? On what types of programs would you focus?
What steps would you take to facilitate conversations amongst faculty and graduate students regarding the evolution of graduate education, the process and purpose of both the master’s and doctoral degrees and future directions in graduate student training?
Thank you in advance for your participation in this process. The committee will start its work immediately.