Three appointed as Dean, Associate Dean, Master in PSD

The University has named three individuals—a University newcomer, a longtime professor and a dean—to appointments in the College. Susan Art, Dean of Students in the College, was reappointed to a second term; John Frederick, Professor in Geophysical Sciences, was appointed Master of the Physical Sciences Collegiate Division; and Martha Merritt joined the University community this month as Associate Dean of the College for International Education.

Art said, “I am very excited to begin a second term as Dean of Students. The College has undergone some significant changes in the last decade, and I am delighted to continue to participate in ensuring that our students have an excellent learning experience here.” Art added that she is especially pleased to be a part of Dean of the College John Boyer’s administration as he embarks on his fourth term.

Frederick, who has been a member of the University faculty since 1985, said that his appointment as Master of the Physical Sciences Collegiate Division is a high point in his career. “I feel like I finally found my niche, after 21 years,” he said. “This appointment combines the things I love most: undergraduate education and physical sciences.”

Frederick said he is looking forward to adding a new component to summer internships for undergraduate research by offering students opportunities to work with large corporations in addition to academic institutions and laboratories. As an example, he noted the research L’Oreal Cosmetics is doing to develop “a sunscreen that fully blocks ultraviolet rays.” Frederick said that research internships with large corporations complement the internship opportunities students already have with academic research institutions in the University’s programs.

“I hope to make science rele vant for students here, in a way that allows them to see the practical benefits of research being done in many different settings,” Frederick said. “If I can accomplish that during my term as Master of the Physical Sciences Collegiate Division, then my term will have been a success.”

Merritt, whose term as Associate Dean of the College for International Education began Dec. 1, came to Chicago from the University of Notre Dame, where she served as Associate Director of the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.

In a letter to his colleagues this fall, Boyer wrote of Merritt, “The College is extremely fortunate to be able to welcome such an experienced and successful administrative leader, and dedicated teacher/scholar to the Associate Deanship for International Education.”

“I am excited to join the Dean’s office at Chicago at a time of growth for international programs and for the University’s international profile,” said Merritt. “Chicago has an impressive foundation in international studies, and I look forward to building new programs that expand the range of choices for undergraduates.

“One reason that I hope to increase participation in study abroad is the need for students to acquire cultural fluency, a sense of how to enter and participate in a new culture with appreciation and respect. This kind of engagement facilitates lifelong learning,” she said.