Alexis Abramson Tapped to Lead Columbia Climate School

Dean Abramson in her office at Thayer. (Photo by Katie Lenhart)

Professor of Engineering Doug Van Citters '99 Th'03 Th'06, Thayer's associate dean for undergraduate education, will serve as interim dean for up to 18 months. A search for the next Thayer dean will begin in the new year, with the goal of having a new dean in place by July 1, 2026.

"I am grateful to have had the privilege of working with a leader as talented, passionate, creative, and generous as Alexis," says President Sian Leah Beilock. "Her exemplary leadership has made Dartmouth stronger and better positioned than ever to serve students and faculty and to contribute to solutions to some of the most crucial issues facing the world today."

"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve Dartmouth Engineering and work with the amazing people in our human-centered community," Abramson says. "The faculty, staff, and students have made my job more fulfilling and enjoyable than I ever imagined, and I thank you."

Abramson, who was reappointed to a second term as dean in 2023, oversaw a major expansion of Dartmouth Engineering, including the addition of close to 30 new members of the faculty, and dramatically increased applications to its graduate degree programs. Notably, nearly 27% of engineering faculty are women, compared to the national average of 19%, and women now make up 47% of students enrolled in engineering master's programs (the national average is 30%). The percentage of students from underrepresented backgrounds has also increased substantially during Abramson's tenure.

Among her other accomplishments, Abramson led Thayer in a strategic planning process to build Dartmouth's global impact through human-centered engineering, research, and entrepreneurship. She helped grow existing programs and launch new initiatives, including the in-residence and online master of engineering programs, online certificate programs in applied data science and digital transformation, and joint educational partnerships with other Dartmouth schools as well as externally; increased entrepreneurship and innovation opportunities; and launched the Design Initiative at Dartmouth. Research expenditures at Thayer have grown over 50% during Abramson's tenure.

She also helped launch the EDGE Consortium last year to help bring more women and underrepresented groups into careers in the semiconductor industry.

"While Alexis' departure is a loss, I'm thrilled that she has this opportunity to lead a new school that is uniquely aligned with her experience, her strengths as a leader, and her expertise in sustainable energy," says Provost David Kotz '86.

Kotz also thanked Van Citters, who has served on the Thayer faculty since 2007, for his willingness to step into the interim leadership role.

"Dartmouth is fortunate to have a leader in Doug who knows Dartmouth Engineering inside and out and is so profoundly dedicated to furthering its mission," he says. "I look forward to working with Doug throughout this transition."