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 Ruben Dupertuis, Ph.D. Coates Library Benjamin Harris, M.L.I.S. Neidorff School of Business Robert Scherer, Ph.D.
DeanJorge Colazo, Ph.D.
Associate DeanD. R. Semmes School of Science David Ribble, Ph.D. School of Social Science and Civic Engagement Nels Christiansen, Ph.D. - Department Chairs
Department Name Accounting Julie Persellin, Ph.D. Art and Art History Mark Garrison, Ph.D.
(Acting Chair, Fall 2024)Kate Ritson, M.F.A.
(Summer 2024 and Spring 2025)Biology Frank Healy, Ph.D. Business Administration Charlene Davis, Ph.D. Chemistry Corina Maeder, Ph.D. Classical Studies Nicolle Hirschfeld, Ph.D. Communication Althea Delwiche, Ph.D. Computer Science Yu Zhang, Ph.D. Earth and Environmental Geosciences Benjamin Surpless, Ph.D. Economics David Macpherson, Ph.D. Education Angela Breidenstein, Ed.D. Engineering Science Farzan Aminian, Ph.D. English Betsy Tontiplahol, Ph.D. Finance and Business Analytics Shage Zhang, Ph.D. Health Care Administration Edward Schumacher, Ph.D. History Nicole Marafioti, Ph.D. Human Communication and Theatre Andrew Hansen, Ph.D. Mathematics Cabral Balreira, Ph.D. Modern Languages and Literatures Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz, Ph.D. Music Jim Worman, Ph.D.
(Acting Chair, Summer and Fall 2024)Gary Seighman, D.M.A.
(Spring 2025)Philosophy Judith Norman, Ph.D. Physics and Astronomy Jennifer Steele, Ph.D. Political Science Rosa Aloisi, Ph.D. Psychology Kevin McIntyre, Ph.D. Religion Sarah Pinnock, Ph.D. Sociology and Anthropology Amy Stone, Ph.D. - Interdisciplinary Major Directors
Department/Program Name Role Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Bethany Strunk, Ph.D.
Laura Hunsicker-Wang, Ph.D.Program Co-Directors
Chinese Studies Stephen Field, Ph.D.
Jie Zhang, Ph.D.Program Co-Directors East Asian Studies at Trinity (EAST) Stephen Field, Ph.D.
Jie Zhang, Ph.D.Program Co-Directors Environmental Studies Greg Hazleton, Ph.D. Program Director Global Latinx Studies Rosana Blanco-Cano, Ph.D. Program Director International Studies Alfred Montoya, Ph.D.
Curtis Swope, Ph.D.Program Co-Directors Mathematical Finance Roberto Hasfura-Buenaga, Ph.D. Program Director Mexico, the Americas, and Spain Dania Abreu-Torres, Ph.D. Neuroscience Kim Phillips, Ph.D. Program Director Urban Studies Christine Drennon, Ph.D. Program Director - Interdisciplinary Minors and Other Programs
Department/Program Name African American Studies Kimberlyn Montford, Ph.D. American Intercultural Studies William Burke, J.D. Architectural Studies Douglas Brine, Ph.D. Arts, Letters, and Enterprise (A.L.E.) Carl Leafstedt, Ph.D.
Jacob Tingle, Ed.D.Biomathematics Cabral Balreira, Ph.D. Comparative Literature Heather Sullivan, Ph.D. Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum Liu Zhaoxi, Ph.D. Data Science Jorge Colazo, Ph.D. Entrepreneurship Carmen Aramanda Film Studies Patrick Keating, M.F.A., Ph.D. Global Supply Chain Management Jorge Colazo, Ph.D. Health Professions Advisory Committee Jim Shinkle, Ph.D. Linguistics Jane Childers, Ph.D. Medieval and Renaissance Studies Nicole Marafioti, Ph.D. Museum Studies Lauren Turek, Ph.D. New Media Althea Delwiche, Ph.D. Scientific Computing Saber Elaydi, Ph.D. Sport Management Jacob Tingle, Ed.D. Strategic Communication Camille Reyes, Ph.D. Women’s and Gender Studies Sarah Erickson, Ph.D.