Debbie Hess Norris, a long-time member of the University of Delaware
faculty, highly regarded scholar and respected administrator, has been
named interim dean of the University of Delaware College of Arts and
Sciences, President Dennis Assanis and Provost Laura Carlson announced
today. Her appointment will be effective Aug.1.
She will succeed John Pelesko,
who earlier this spring announced that he is stepping down to become
provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the New Jersey
Institute of Technology.
A member of the University’s Board of Trustees since 2017, Norris
will recuse herself from activities as a trustee while she serves in
this role.
Norris, a UD alumna, chairs the highly ranked Department of Art
Conservation and is a professor of photograph conservation, the Unidel
Henry Francis du Pont Chair of Fine Arts and the director of the
Winterthur/UD Program in Art Conservation.
“In the many roles Debbie Hess Norris has held throughout her career
at UD, one constant has been her belief in the mission of the University
and its people,” Assanis said. “I am confident that she will bring her
passion for excellence and unparalleled depth of knowledge and insight
to lead the College of Arts and Science as an esteemed alumna, professor
and seasoned administrator.”
“Debbie is highly regarded across campus and beyond, well-recognized
throughout the world for her leadership, dedication and advocacy within
art conservation. She brings all of these elements to this interim role
for the largest college at our University,” Carlson added. “I am
delighted that she has agreed to serve, and look forward to working with
Debbie to advance the college and the University as a whole.”
Norris said, “I have had the privilege to study and work at the
University of Delaware and within the College of Arts and Sciences for
nearly 50 years. This is a community I treasure. I am therefore honored
to work in this interim capacity with President Assanis, Provost
Carlson, our deans and other senior leadership teams across campus and
within the College of Arts and Sciences, including our associate deans,
chairs and directors, as we continue to advance the success and
engagement of our remarkable students, faculty, staff and alums. I look
forward greatly to working together within CAS and our entire college
community as we further strengthen our teaching, research, creative
endeavors and community partnerships, while fostering cultural
understanding, equity and inclusion, sustainability, well-being and
joy.”
