President Richard C. Levin has appointed a committee to assist him in his search for a successor to Thomas Appelquist, who is stepping down as dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences on June 30. Appelquist, who is also the Eugene Higgins Professor of Physics, has served as Graduate School dean since 1993.
"We have all benefitted immensely from Dean Appelquist's leadership, and I am most grateful to him for all that he has done for the school," wrote Levin, in a letter to the Graduate School community.
Frank H. Ruddle, Sterling Professor of Biology and professor of genetics, will chair the search committee. The other committee members are: Mahzarin Banaji, associate professor and director of undergraduate studies in psychology; María Rosa Menocal, the R. Selden Rose Professor of Spanish and chair of the department of Spanish and Portuguese; Annabel Patterson, professor of English; Herbert E. Scarf, Sterling Professor of Economics at the Cowles Foundation; A. Douglas Stone, chair and professor of applied physics, and professor of physics; and Kurt W. Zilm, professor and director of undergraduate studies in chemistry.
"In accordance with the long-standing tradition of the University, the search committee is composed of members of the faculty," noted Levin, "but the entire community can be confident that the committee will consult widely with students and staff, as well as faculty, during the search process." Members of the Yale community are invited to contact members of the search committee with their views about characteristics the new Graduate School dean should have, as well as with nominations of specific candidates.