Lynne Allen has been selected to serve as interim dean of the College of Fine Arts at Boston University. Professor Allen previously led the college on an interim basis from 2015 to 2017. She is a professor of art and printmaking, chair of print media and photography, and the former director of the university’s School of Visual Arts. Earlier in her career, she taught at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
A graduate of Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, Professor Allen holds a master’s degree in teaching from the University of Washington and a master of fine arts degree from the University of New Mexico.
Hilary Smith Risser is interim dean of strategic initiatives at the University of Montana Western. Dr. Smith Risser comes to new role after nearly two decades at Montana Technological University, where she has served as professor in the department of mathematical sciences. During her tenure at Montana Tech, she served as head of her department, director of the data science program, president of the Faculty Association, and accreditation liaison officer. Her research focuses on the use of technology in mathematics education and professional development for educators.
Dr. Smith Risser holds a Ph.D. in computational and applied mathematics from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
Pamela Swett is the incoming dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Rhode Island. Dr. Swett most recently served as dean of the faculty of humanities at McMaster University in Ontario. Prior to her dean appointment at McMaster, she was associate dean of graduate studies and research and chair of the department of history. Her scholarship centers on modern German and European history.
Dr. Swett is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College, a women’s liberal arts educational institution in Pennsylvania. She earned her Ph.D. from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
Amy S. Thompson was named dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Dr. Thompson has been serving as the Mack and Effie Campbell Distinguished Professor and director of the School of Teacher Education at Florida State University. Before Florida State, she held various leadership roles in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University. As a scholar, Dr. Thompson studies multilingualism, language learning, linguistic racism/native-speakerism, women in higher education, and higher education leadership.
Dr. Thompson received her master’s degree and Ph.D. in second language studies from Michigan State University.
Kandice Chuh was named associate provost for academic affairs and dean of humanities and social sciences at the City University of New York Graduate Center. A professor at the Graduate Center sinec 2010, Dr. Chuh has appointments in English; psychology; Black, race, and ethnic studies; liberal studies; Africana studies; and American studies. She researches and teaches in U.S. cultural studies as they address feminist and queer critical race and ethnic studies, with particular attention to the production of Asian as a racial category.
Dr. Chuh earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature and women’s studies from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. She received her master’s and doctoral degrees in English literature from the University of Washington.