From Interim Dean Rachel A. Walsh, August 2024
I am honored to serve as the Interim Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Before I share a bit about myself with those of you whom I don’t know, I’d like to thank Provost Mary Clark for the confidence she has shown me in this appointment. I’d also like to recognize Acting and Emeritus Dean Danny McIntosh for his willingness to again provide outstanding leadership for this College throughout July.
From the time I arrived at DU 18 years ago after earning my Ph.D. in Romance Languages & Literatures from the University of Chicago, I have prioritized advising and mentoring students. In my research I have focused on 18th- and 19th-Century Italian literature, canon formation and literary histories and in my teaching, I’ve brought this literature, language, and history to life.
I am deeply committed to supporting our faculty colleagues and the College itself; I have served as Chair of the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures for the last five years and was also a member of many CAHSS strategic initiatives over the past several years.
We are living and working during a turbulent time in higher education, our nation, and the world. Yet alongside this difficulty and uncertainty, I see so many opportunities for CAHSS. During this interim period, I intend to embrace diverse perspectives, innovative thinking, and collaborative leadership. I very much look forward to this coming academic year with each of you.
Our strategic planning committee described CAHSS as “a vibrant academic and artistic hub dedicated to examining, navigating, and transforming the human experience in service of the public good.” I agree wholeheartedly with that vision and in some ways, our pursuit of that vision this coming year will be no different from our efforts in other years. Our faculty are internationally renowned for our ground-breaking, artistic, and thought-provoking endeavors. Our staff are dedicated and skilled partners in all our work. Our students inquire and grow with us as they prepare for their futures and the future of our world. We welcome debate and engage collaboratively and intentionally to meet challenges head-on. I look forward to being there with you to champion all that our students, alumni, staff, and faculty do.
As Interim Dean, I commit to: being present and listening; acting and advocating on our behalf; making data-informed decisions; and communicating openly and honestly.
I genuinely welcome your feedback as I represent and lead the college. I will be in touch soon with ways in which I believe we can better connect. In the meantime, I wish you a restorative August and I look forward to our journey together this coming academic year. We have much to look forward to as we prepare to welcome the next Dean of CAHSS with increased clarity about what this college needs to thrive moving forward.
Best,
Rachel
Interim Dean, Associate Professor
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
