UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State is seeking nominations and candidates for the next dean of the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST).
Andrea Tapia, associate dean for research and professor in the College of IST, has been serving as interim dean of the college since Aug. 1, following the departure of former dean Andrew Sears.
Reporting to the executive vice president and provost, the dean will provide leadership and vision for the College of IST as it continues to grow and respond to an evolving educational landscape. As a convener of many multi- and interdisciplinary programs, the dean will lead the college in producing excellence in both education and research. The dean will work with other campus leaders to continue to foster and grow multi- and interdisciplinary programs and support all faculty, staff and students in the college as they embark on their future path together. The next dean will manage and encourage growth and be an advocate for the college both externally and internally. Penn State seeks a dean with a vision for the future of the college who will turn vision into action.
Reporting to and working with the executive vice president and provost, and in coordination with the deans from other colleges, the dean will have responsibility for the strategic, programmatic, fundraising and management operations that support the mission and vision of the College of IST and its role within Penn State. The next dean will lead the college at a time when its disciplines are in increasingly high demand by undergraduate, professional and graduate students, and the dean will navigate the growth and changing landscape astutely. The dean will have the opportunity to capitalize on this exciting information age by articulating the distinctive strengths of the college to increase awareness of its excellence among external stakeholders and build key collaborations and partnerships that will continue to distinguish the college in the future. The dean will be a collaborative and transparent leader who demonstrates a deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and who understands the various avenues of application needed for everyone to excel.
Applicants and nominees must have the appropriate academic credentials and a proven record of scholarly publication, discipline-related research, and/or creative production that warrant the appointment as full professor with tenure at the University. Applications are welcome from any disciplines that can be articulated within the ethos of the college.
Nominations and applications will be accepted until the position is filled, and interested parties are encouraged to submit applications by Jan. 8, 2024. Applications should include a statement of interest and a resume of professional and educational attainments. All nominations, applications, and inquiries should be submitted electronically in confidence to PSU-ISTDean@kornferry.com.
The search committee, chaired by Clarence Lang, the Susan Welch Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts, is as follows:
- Kathleen Bieschke, vice provost for Faculty Affairs and professor of education
- Guoray Cai, associate professor and professor-in-charge, human-computer interaction, College of IST
- Wei-Fen Chen, professor of information technology and computer science; Information Technology program co-coordinator, Penn State Wilkes-Barre
- Christopher Dancy, Harold and Inge Marcus Industrial and Manufacturing Career Development Associate Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, and African American Studies
- Ankolika De, doctoral student, information sciences and technology; president of the Graduate Student Association, College of IST
- Deborah Ehrenthal, director of the Social Science Research Institute and professor of biobehavioral health
- Chrissie Fitzgerald, program manager, Graduate Programs, Academic Services Operations, College of IST
- Fred Fonseca, associate professor, College of IST
- Vasant Honavar, Huck Chair in Biomedical Data Sciences and Artificial Intelligence, College of IST
- Clarence Lang (chair), Susan Welch Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts, professor of African American studies
- Peng Liu, Raymond G. Tronzo, MD Professor of Cybersecurity, College of IST
- Rosalie Ocker, teaching professor, College of IST
- Kristy Romaine, assistant director, Undergraduate Academic Advising, College of IST
- Sarah Stager, assistant teaching professor, College of IST
- Hope Stylios, undergraduate student in cybersecurity analytics and operations, College of IST
- Mike Weyandt, director of development, Development and Alumni Relations, College of IST
- Lynette Yarger, associate dean for equity and inclusion, Schreyer Honors College; professor, College of IST
- John Yen, professor and professor-in-charge, data science, College of IST