This page provides guidance on many tasks, duties, policies and procedures for Deans, Department Chairs, and Program Directors. It is also intended to give chairs a sense of their roles and responsibilities and information about the timing of various activities that occur throughout the academic year.
Roles and Reponsibilities
You will find that as a Chair you will wear many hats and serve multiple audiences, but they will generally fall into two categories:
You are the representative and spokesperson for the department, interacting with the Provost and AVPs for Academic Affairs, other university administrators, alumni, parents, and students on departmental issues, including curriculum, personnel, and budget.
You are an administrator who is expected to be familiar with established college policies, such as those in the Faculty and Contract Staff Handbook, and are responsible for representing the University to various stakeholders.
Deans, Department Chairs, and Program Directors
- School Deans
School Name School of Arts and Humanities Kyle Gillette
Acting Dean (Summer and Fall '23)Ruben Dupertuis
Dean (Spring '24)Coates Library Benjamin Harris Neidorff School of Business Robert Scherer D. R. Semmes School of Science David Ribble School of Social Science and Civic Engagement Nels Christiansen - Department Chairs
Department Name Accounting Julie Persellin Art and Art History Kate Ritson Biology James Shinkle
(Summer and Fall 2023)Frank Healy
(Spring 2024)Business Administration Charlene Davis Chemistry Corina Maeder Classical Studies Tim O'Sullivan
Acting Chair (Summer and Fall '23)
Nicolle Hirschfeld
Department Chair (Spring 2024)Communication Althea Delwiche Computer Science Yu Zhang Economics Ricardo Santos Education Angela Breidenstein Engineering Science Farzan Aminian English Betsy Tontiplahol Finance and Decision Sciences Shage Zhang Geosciences Benjamin Surpless Health Care Administration Edward Schumacher History Nicole Marafioti Human Communication and Theatre Andrew Hansen Mathematics Cabral Balreira Modern Languages and Literatures Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz, Ph.D. (Acting Chair) Music David Heller Philosophy Judith Norman
Department Chair (Summer and Fall '23)
Andrew Kania
Acting Chair (Spring 2024)Physics and Astronomy Dennis Ugolini
(Summer 2023: Acting Chair)
Jennifer Steele
(Fall 2023 and Spring 2024)Political Science Rosa Aloisi Psychology Kevin McIntyre Religion Sarah Pinnock Sociology and Anthropology Jennifer Matthews
(Summer and Fall 2023)Spring 2024: TBD
- Interdisciplinary Major Directors
Department/Program Name Role Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Bethany Strunk
Laura Hunsicker-WangProgram Co-Directors
Chinese Studies Stephen Field
Jie ZhangProgram Co-Directors East Asian Studies at Trinity (EAST) Stephen Field
Jie ZhangProgram Co-Directors Environmental Studies Greg Hazleton Program Director Global Latinx Studies Rita Urquijo Program Director International Studies Alfred Montoya
Curtis SwopeProgram Co-Directors Mathematical Finance Roberto Hasfura-Buenaga Program Director Mexico, the Americas, and Spain Rita Urquijo-Ruiz Neuroscience Gerard Beaudoin (Fall 2023)
Kim Phillips (Spring 2024)Program Director Urban Studies Habiba Noor Program Director - Interdisciplinary Minors and Other Programs
Department/Program Name African American Studies Kimberlyn Montford American Intercultural Studies William Burke Architectural Studies Kathryn O'Rourke Arts, Letters, and Enterprise (A.L.E.) Carl Leafsteadt
Jacob TingleBiomathematics Cabral Balreira Comparative Literature Heather Sullivan Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum Liu Zhaoxi Data Science Jorge Colazo Entrepreneurship Carmen Aramanda Film Studies Patrick Keating Global Supply Chain Management Jorge Colazo Health Professions Advisory Committee Jonathan King Linguistics Jane Childers Medieval and Renaissance Studies Nicole Marafioti Museum Studies Lauren Turek New Media Althea Delwiche Scientific Computing Saber Elaydi Sport Management Jacob Tingle Strategic Communication Camille Reyes Women’s and Gender Studies Sarah Erickson
Gina Tam