Announcing New CAHSS Dean

Sahara Byrne, Courtesy Photo

Dear DU community, 

I am delighted to share the wonderful news of the appointment of our new Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), Dr. Sahara Byrne, who will begin in role on July 1, 2025.  Dr. Byrne brings to the Dean role a deep understanding of academia and of faculty, staff, and student needs from her work in leadership at Cornell University, where she currently serves as Senior Associate Dean at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and previously served as Inaugural Director of the university-wide Cornell Center for Social Sciences and led the establishment of a new faculty governance structure in the college.

Having received her Ph.D. and MA in Communication from the University of California at Santa Barbara and her B.F.A. in Film and Television Production from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Dr. Byrne has spent the last two decades teaching and conducting research in the field of Communication at Cornell, where her work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, and the National Science Foundation.    

Upon accepting her appointment as Dean of CAHSS, Dr. Byrne observed, "It is an honor to accept this role at such a forward-thinking institution. I am excited to partner with the exceptional faculty, staff, and students of CAHSS to shape the future of liberal arts education at DU. The passion for the work and innovative ideas expressed by every single person I met during my visits captured my heart. I simply can’t wait to devote my energies to their success.”  Please join me in welcoming Dr. Byrne to the University of Denver!

Please also join me in thanking College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Professor and Distinguished University Professor Lynn Schofield Clark and Sturm College of Law Dean Bruce Smith for their exceptionally capable leadership of the Dean search committee.  We were fortunate to work with such an able and committed search committee composed of dedicated staff and faculty:

• Renee Botta 
• Elysia Davis 
• Kate Erusha 
• Jennifer Garner 
• Annabeth Headrick 
• Kimberly Virgia Jones 
• Chad Leahy 
• Cheryl Miller 
• Marco Nathan 
• Laura Ralston 
• Markus Schneider 
• Cappy Shopneck 

CAHSS Dean Search Committee Co-Chair, Dr. Lynn Schofield Clark noted, “It was a pleasure to meet Dr. Byrne and to witness the enthusiasm with which our peers in the College greeted her.  Many on the search committee and throughout the College commented on how much they appreciated her deep commitment to researching and understanding the strengths of our programs and our university.  Her determination to see the College thrive was evident, as was her sense of humor and her interest in being a partner who listens and finds innovative ways to provide support.  She brings a wealth of experience, and we are fortunate to have her join us.”

Similarly, Sturm College of Law Dean Bruce Smith observed, “Dr. Byrne will bring a number of important qualities to the deanship, among them: extensive experience in the realms of budgeting, operations, strategic planning, and accreditation; a track record of working collaboratively and transparently with faculty and staff; a deep commitment to the flourishing of students; and a proven capacity to work both within and across academic disciplines.  Throughout the interview process, she displayed a keen appreciation for the strengths of CAHSS, a commitment to learning even more about its opportunities, and the vision, optimism, and determination to lead this outstanding and important college to even greater heights.”  Thank you again to our superlative search committee and chairs!

In closing, please join me in thanking our Interim Dean, Dr. Rachel A. Walsh, who has exceptionally and selflessly led CAHSS this year.  She has been inexhaustible in her support for the CAHSS community, hosting gatherings, meetings, office hours and events on nearly every day of each week.  Interim Dean Walsh will embark on a well-deserved sabbatical this summer where she will re-engage with her research on 18th-century Italian literature and how our critical examinations of the past are intrinsically linked to shaping the spaces in which we move today.  She also very much looks forward to returning to the classroom and to advising and mentoring DU students.

In sum, it is a delight to welcome Dr. Sahara Byrne as our new Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at DU and to thank our Interim Dean Rachel A. Walsh for her exceptionally thoughtful service this year!!

 With very best regards,

Mary L. Clark
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor