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Working Groups

Working Groups and Task Groups – composed of leaders, faculty, and staff from various areas of campus – have supported the Future of A&S project through their diligent work in collecting and analyzing information on various models, trade-offs involved, and future-state scenarios. Their work has helped in building the recommendation for a new structure seen in the Future of Arts and Sciences proposal. Task Groups will continue to be engaged in future discussions and implementation efforts.

2024-2025 Project Groups

Project leads Dave Kotz and Nina Pavcnik charged six Task Groups to convene over the summer to address outstanding questions pertaining to the Future of A&S proposal. Engagement with faculty and staff in the spring term raised questions about several key areas of the proposal and how they might function in a future A&S model. The Task Groups described below examined those aspects to improve the proposal and inform the Future of A&S project.

Steering Committee: Charged with delivering a proposal for a new Arts and Sciences unit to Dartmouth leadership.

  • David Kotz (co-lead), Provost, and the Pat and John Rosenwald Professor in the Department of Computer Science
  • Nina Pavcnik (co-lead), Niehaus Family Professor in International Studies, Special Advisor to the President
  • Scott Frew, Chief Financial Officer
  • Devin Gray, Assistant Vice President for Strategic Initiatives
  • Anne Hudak, Co-Interim Dean of the College
  • Elizabeth Smith, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Paul M. Dauten, Jr. Professor of Biological Sciences
  • Ann Root Keith, Chief Operating Officer for Advancement, Interim Chief Advancement Officer
  • Eric Ramsey, Co-Interim Dean of the College
  • Christie Thomas (Winter 2024 - Summer 2024), Associate Professor of Philosophy
  • Rebecca Biron (2023 - Summer 2024), Professor of Spanish & Portuguese, Comparative Literature, Leslie Center

UG Advising Model Task Group: Charged with recommending a new, more effective undergraduate advising model that centers the student experience.

  • Tim Baker (co-lead), Senior Lecturer in Religion, Assistant Dean of Faculty for Undergraduate Advising
  • Anne Hudak (co-lead), Associate Dean of Student Support Services
  • Bruce Duthu, Samson Occum Professor, Chair, Department of Native American and Indigenous Studies
  • Jim Feyrer, Professor of Economics
  • Margaret Funnell, Director of Undergraduate Advising & Research
  • Devin Gray, Assistant VP for Strategic Initiatives
  • Ryan Hickox, Professor of Physics and Astronomy
  • Mary Nyhan, Director of the Undergraduate Deans Office, Senior Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Students
  • Doug Van Citters, Professor of Engineering, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, Faculty Athletics Representative

Communications Task Group: Charged with the strategic delivery of communications, announcements, and progress updates as they relate to the Future of A&S project

  • Justin Anderson (lead), Senior VP for Communications
  • Steve Kloehn, Communications Consultant
  • Nina Pavcnik, Niehaus Family Professor in International Studies, Special Advisor to the President

A&S Operations Task Group: Charged with designing and recommending an organizational structure for effective and efficient operations within the Arts and Sciences.

  • Maria Anderson (lead), Chief Finance and Operations Officer
  • Jessica Havrda, Director of Fiscal Management and Human Resources
  • Andrea Tarnowski, Chair, Department of French and Italian, Associate Professor of French and Comparative Literature
  • Ben Valentino, Associate Dean for the Social Sciences, Professor of Government

Guarini Funding Model Task Group: Charged with exploring options for a sustainable financial model for the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

  • Scott Frew (co-lead), Chief Financial Officer
  • David Kotz (co-lead), Provost, and the Pat and John Rosenwald Professor in the Department of Computer Science
  • Jon Kull (co-lead), Dean of the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Rodgers Professor of Chemistry
  • Sarah Brooks, Fiscal Officer and Sponsored Research Administrator
  • Paul Harvey, Assistant Vice President of Financial Planning and Budget
  • Whitney Henry, Vice President for Finance and Administration
  • Judith Todd, Senior Budget Analyst

Business Continuity Task Group: Charged with identifying impacted business processes and opportunities for process optimization throughout central functions (e.g., HR, Facilities, Student Support, and Finance)

  • Paul Harvey (co-lead), Assistant Vice President of Financial Planning and Budget
  • Whitney Henry (co-lead), Vice President for Finance and Administration

Institutional Registrar Task Group: Charged with recommending a proposed structure and operations for a potential Institutional Registrar at Dartmouth

  • Libby Barlow (co-lead), Associate Provost for Institutional Research
  • Eric Parsons (co-lead), Registrar of the College
  • Joseph Doucet, Senior Director, Enterprise Systems Group
  • Devin Gray, Assistant VP for Strategic Initiatives
  • Vicki May, Professor of Engineering
  • Lynn Patyk, Chair and Professor, Department of East European, Eurasian, and Russian Studies
  • Julia Abraham, Registrar of Thayer 
  • Gary Hutchins, Registrar of Guarini
  • Michele Jaeger, Registrar of Geisel
  • Stacie Marshall, Registrar of Tuck
2023-2024 Project Groups

In July 2023, President Beilock established a project steering committee to lead the Future of A&S project through its second phase, led by Provost David Kotz and Professor Nina Pavcnik, and including Deans Elizabeth Smith and Scott Brown and other senior leaders.

Steering Committee: Charged with delivering a proposal for a new Arts and Sciences unit to Dartmouth leadership.

  • David Kotz (co-lead), Provost, and the Pat and John Rosenwald Professor in the Department of Computer Science
  • Nina Pavcnik (co-lead), Niehaus Family Professor in International Studies, Special Advisor to the President
  • Rebecca Biron, Professor of Spanish & Portuguese, Comparative Literature, Leslie Center
  • Scott Brown, Dean of the College
  • Lee Coffin, Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
  • Scott Frew, Chief Financial Officer
  • Elizabeth Smith, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Paul M. Dauten, Jr. Professor of Biological Sciences
  • Ann Root Keith, Chief Advising Officer
  • Christie Thomas, Associate Professor of Philosophy

A&S Leadership Structure Task Group: Charged with recommending a leadership structure and responsibilities for a new A&S unit.

  • Elizabeth Smith (Lead), Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Paul M. Dauten, Jr. Professor of Biological Sciences
  • Scott Brown, Dean of the College
  • Nina Pavcnik, Niehaus Family Professor in International Studies, Special Advisor to the President
  • Christie Thomas, Associate Professor of Philosophy

Undergraduate Student Affairs Task Group: Charged with recommending how an undergraduate student affairs division within Arts and Sciences might be structured to enhance the holistic undergraduate experience and support the work of student affairs staff.

  • Rebecca Biron (lead), Professor of Spanish & Portuguese, Comparative Literature, Leslie Center
  • La-Tarri Canty, Associate Dean of Community Life and Inclusivity
  • Eric Ramsey, Associate Dean for Student Life
  • Holly Wilkinson, Assistant Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at Thayer

Advising & Student Support Task Group: Charged with recommending how an advising and student support division might be structured to enhance the holistic undergraduate experience and increase collaboration between faculty and staff.

  • Elizabeth Smith (Lead), Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Paul M. Dauten, Jr. Professor of Biological Sciences
  • Tim Baker, Assistant Dean of the Faculty for Special Projects and Academic Advising
  • Margaret Funnell, Assistant Dean of the Faculty for Undergraduate Research
  • Anne Hudak, Associate Dean of Student Support Services
  • Doug Van Citters, Associate Professor of Engineering for the Thayer School of Engineering and Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education
  • Janice McCabe, Associate Professor of Sociology, Allen House Professor

Undergraduate Admissions & Financial Aid Collaboration Task Group: Charged with exploring what structures might improve collaboration between the undergraduate admissions office, faculty, and student affairs staff.

  • Lee Coffin, Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid

Advancement Task Group: Charged with recommending how Central Advancement might be structured to maximize collaborative opportunities and effectiveness in supporting a new unit.

  • Ann Root Keith, Chief Advancement Officer

Institutional Registrar Task Group: Charged with exploring how an institutional registrar might help coordinate and complement the work already taking place in individual schools and units.

  • Elizabeth Smith (Lead), Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Paul M. Dauten, Jr. Professor of Biological Sciences
  • Libby Barlow, Associate Provost for Institutional Research
  • Eric Parsons, Registrar of the College

Finance & Budget Task Group: Charged with exploring how Arts and Sciences and Thayer might receive undergraduate net tuition revenue and share the costs of undergraduate student affairs.

  • Scott Frew (Lead), Chief Financial Officer
  • Maria Anderson, Chief Finance and Operations Officer for the Arts and Sciences
  • Wesley Benbow, MBA, Executive Dean for Administration and Finance for the Geisel School of Medicine
  • Nina Pavcnik, Niehaus Family Professor in International Studies, Special Advisor to the President
  • Andrew Samwick, Sandra L. and Arthur L. Irving Professor of Economics
  • Tricia Spellman, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for the Thayer School of Engineering
  • Chris Strenta, Advisor, Dean of Faculty Office
2022-2023 Project Groups

In January 2022, Dartmouth President Phil Hanlon asked Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Elizabeth Smith to explore new organizational and budget models for the Arts and Sciences (A&S). Her charge: to recommend potential models that bring together all activities that support the research and teaching of the A&S faculty and the mission of undergraduate education; and, to align decision-making, priority-setting, and resource allocation across units invested in advancing the core undergraduate mission.  

At the close of the 2021-22 academic year, Dean Smith established and charged three groups of project leadership: an Executive Committee, a Budget Working Group, and an Organizational Structure and Governance Working Group.  These committees worked throughout the 2022-23 academic year.

Executive Committee: Charged with the oversight of all Working Groups to provide guidance and strategic direction in the ultimate development of a final recommendation on the future organizational structure and budget models. 

  • Elizabeth Smith (Lead), Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Paul M. Dauten, Jr. Professor of Biological Sciences
  • Justin Anderson, Vice President for Communications
  • Scott Brown, Ph.D, Dean of the College
  • Lee Coffin, Vice Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
  • Scott Frew, Chief Financial Officer
  • Phil Hanlon, President
  • Mike Harrity, Haldeman Director of Athletics and Recreation
  • David Kotz, Provost, and the Pat and John Rosenwald Professor in the Department of Computer Science
  • Richard Mills, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration
  • Chloe Poston, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity
  • Peter Roby, Advisor to the Director of Athletics and Recreation

Organizational Working Group: Charged with uncovering challenges posed by the current organization structure to analyze how a future structure may enhance shared governance and the undergraduate mission.

Faculty Success Working Group

  • Christine Thomas (Chair), Associate Professor of Philosophy
  • Jane Lipson, Albert W. Smith Professor of Chemistry, Associate Dean for the Sciences
  • Laura Ray, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development, Professor of Engineering for the Thayer School of Engineering
  • Lee Coffin, Vice Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid

Student Success Working Group

  • Lee Coffin (Chair), Vice Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
  • Rebecca Biron, Professor of Spanish & Portuguese, Comparative Literature, Leslie Center, CIPR
  • Joann Brislin, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Physical Education & Recreation
  • Anne Hudak , Associate Dean of Student Support Services
  • Eric Ramsey, Associate Dean for Student Life
  • Douglas Van Citters, Associate Professor of Engineering for the Thayer School of Engineering and Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education
  • Marianne Thomson, Associate Dean of Student Affairs (past member)

Budget Working Group: Charged with the articulation of a potential future approach for a new funding relationship between the central institution and an undergraduate entity. 

  • Scott Frew, Chief Financial Officer
  • Maria Anderson, Chief Finance and Operation Officer for the Arts and Sciences
  • Wesley Benbow, MBA, Executive Dean for Administration and Finance for the Geisel School of Medicine
  • David Kotz, Provost, and the Pat and John Rosenwald Professor in the Department of Computer Science
  • Andrew Samwick, Sandra L. and Arthur L. Irving Professor of Economics, and Chair of Department of Economics
  • Tricia Spellman, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for the Thayer School of Engineering
  • Christopher Strenta, Advisor, Dean of Faculty Office
  • Mary-Ella Zietz, Assistant Provost for Fiscal Planning and Operations