Search Starts for New Dean of Thayer School of Engineering

Dartmouth's West End in Winter. (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)

Leading up to the December 15 announcement, Schnell hosted several listening sessions during the fall term to identify the ideal qualities of Thayer's next leader.

"Your insights affirmed that a successful new dean must bring extraordinary vision to the role, a proven ability to foster collaboration across disciplines and schools, and a deep commitment to Thayer's mission," Schnell said. 

The conversations helped guide the creation of a search advisory committee with representation from Dartmouth's schools, "reflecting the vital role that the new dean will play in maintaining and forging collaborations across the institution," Schnell said.

The search committee is being chaired by Mathieu Morlighem, the Evans Family Distinguished Professor of Earth Sciences. In addition to Morlighem, the committee includes: 

• Todd Cook '93 Th'94, Thayer Board of Advisors
• Eric Fossum, vice provost for entrepreneurship and technology transfer; director of the PhD Innovation Program; the John H. Krehbiel Sr. Professor for Emerging Technologies
• Steve Leach, interim dean of Geisel School of Medicine and the Preston T. and Virginia R. Kelsey Distinguished Chair in Cancer
• Lauren Xiaoyuan Lu, the Norman W. Martin 1925 Professor of Business Administration, Tuck School of Business
• James Moseley, chair and professor of biochemistry and cell biology, Geisel
• Olivia Palmer, PhD candidate in engineering, Thayer
• Hélène Seroussi, associate professor of engineering and program lead in mechanical, operations, and systems engineering, Thayer
• Tricia Spellman, chief financial and administrative officer, Thayer
• Charlie Sullivan, the Sue and John Ballard '55 TT'56 Professor of Engineering, Thayer, and co-director of the Power Management Integration Center
• Tam Vu, the Thomas A. and Georgina Tugwell Russo 1977 Distinguished Professor in Computer Science 

The committee is being assisted by a team from the executive search firm Korn Ferry. Community members are invited to submit confidential nominations, applications, or expressions of interest. Additional information about the search will be shared as the process advances.

Schnell also thanked Professor of Engineering Douglas Van Citters '99 Th'03 Th'06, who has served as interim dean since former Thayer Dean Alexis Abramson became dean of the Columbia Climate School in January. Van Citters will continue in the interim role until the position is filled.