Acting Dean and Search Advisory Committee for the Dean of Undergraduate Education

June 12, 2008

TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY

Dear Colleagues:

In my campus memo of April 14, 2008, I announced that after 12 years of exceptional leadership as our Dean of Undergraduate Education in the College of Letters and Science, Dr. Al Wyner has decided to retire. This is Dr. Wyner’s fortieth year as part of our campus community in Political Science and Letters and Science, and we are grateful for his steadfast leadership and service.

Following consultation with the Academic Senate, all Deans of the College of Letters and Science, and other campus colleagues, Executive Dean Marshall, EVC Lucas, and I are pleased to announce the formation of our search advisory committee for the next Dean of Undergraduate Education. We express our sincere thanks to Professors Bruce Bimber and Ruth Finkelstein, co-chairs of the committee, and to all of the members listed below for their willingness to devote their time, energy, and wisdom to this important search.

We are also pleased to announce that Dr. Mary Nisbet has agreed to serve as our Acting Dean of Undergraduate Education, effective July 1, 2008. Dr. Nisbet has been the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education in our College of Letters and Science since 2002. She is also a faculty member in our Department of Economics. Her valuable experience and long-standing dedication to students make her an excellent choice to guide us through this interim period. Please join us in thanking Mary for her timely leadership.

Sincerely,
Henry T. Yang
Chancellor

Search Advisory Committee for the Dean of Undergraduate Education

Bruce Bimber, Co-Chair; Professor of Political Science and Communication
Ruth Finkelstein, Co-Chair; Professor of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology

Silvia Bermúdez, Professor of Spanish and Portuguese
Omer Blaes, Professor of Physics
Thomas Carlson, Professor of Religious Studies
Francis Dunn, Professor of Classics
Amber Gonzalez, Graduate Students Association Representative
David Marshall, Executive Dean, College of Letters and Science; Dean, Division of
   Humanities and Fine Arts; Professor of English
Thuc-Quyen Nguyen, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
John Paul Primeau, Associated Students Representative
Candace Stevenson, Staff Representative
Verta Taylor, Professor and Chair of Sociology Department
Clyde Woods, Assistant Professor of Black Studies

Ex officio:
Ricardo Alcaíno, Director of Office of Equal Opportunity
Britt Johnson, Director of Academic Advising, College of Letters and Science