Two candidates have been selected as finalists for the next associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Dr. William Gutowski, professor of geological and atmospheric sciences, and Dr. William Jenks, professor and chair of chemistry, will be interviewed next week.
Dr. Martin Spalding, who became interim associate dean on July 1, 2011 and was permanently appointed on January 1, 2012, will step down on Dec. 31, as part of transitioning into phased retirement.
Dr. William Gutowski, professor of geological and atmospheric sciences, joined the ISU meteorology faculty in 1991. His research concentrates on the role of atmospheric dynamics in climate – specifically, the dynamics of the hydrologic cycle and regional climate. In 2013, he was one of the first five recipients to be awarded a Signature Research Initiative grant. His project, “Water and Climate Change (WACC): Building Community Consensus for a Sustainable Future for Iowa and the World,” brought together a multidisciplinary research group which developed a prototype water-resources model for the Squaw Creek watershed. He will interview on Thursday, Nov. 12.
Dr. William Jenks, professor and chair of chemistry, joined the ISU chemistry faculty in 1992. His research interests cover organic photochemistry, reactive intermediates, and sulfur chemistry – which has been one of his major areas of research over the last few years, particularly the photochemistry of sulfoxides. He received an NSF Career Award in 1996, is an associate editor of Advances in Photochemistry, earned the 1998 Wilkinson award for undergraduate teaching, and received an LAS Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching. He will interview on Friday, Nov. 13.
The associate dean for research and graduate studies promotes research and scholarship in the college across all scholarly fields represented in LAS and provides administrative oversight for graduate education in the college. The associate dean is also a member of the college leadership team, develop and implement initiatives related to research and graduate studies, and participate in decision making processes at the college level.
To be eligible for the position, a candidate must hold the rank of full professor with tenure in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University and have demonstrated success in teaching and scholarship.
On their interview date, each finalist will meet with Beate Schmittmann, LAS dean; David Holger, associate provost and dean of the graduate college; the screening committee; and key staff members in the college.
Each finalist will also give a short presentation on their vision for research and graduate studies in the college, followed by an opportunity for Q&A. All members of the LAS Representative Assembly (RA) and the LAS Faculty Senate Caucus, the LAS department chairs, the college leadership team, and the screening committee are invited to the presentation. Please check with your RA representative, your faculty senator, or a member of the screening committee if you would like to learn more about the finalists or the process.
Screening committee members:
William Carter, assistant professor and member of the LAS Representative Assembly, World Languages and Cultures Barbara Ching, professor and chair, English (Heimir Geirsson, professor and chair, Philosophy and Religious Studies, will replace Dr. Ching when she is away from campus) Arne Hallam, associate dean (LAS) and professor, Economics Frank Krennrich, professor and chair, Physics and Astronomy Arun Somani, associate dean (Engineering) and professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering