Dan Smith, associate professor of public policy and
administration, has been named associate dean for the social sciences in the
University of Delaware’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).
“Dan will be a tremendous asset to our leadership team and to
our College, and I am grateful for his willingness to serve in this important
role,” CAS Dean John A. Pelesko said in announcing the appointment, which was
effective July 1.
Smith served as acting associate dean for the social sciences
in 2019-20 while David C. Wilson was on sabbatical from that position. Wilson
has now been appointed dean of the Richard and
Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California Berkeley,
beginning July 1.
“I am very excited
to join the CAS leadership team,” Smith said. “The social sciences at UD
exemplify excellence in scholarship and teaching, and I look forward to working
with the portfolio’s departments to break new ground in ensuring student
success, especially in the areas of inclusion, experiential learning and
professional development.”
Smith is a faculty member in the Joseph R. Biden Jr. School
of Public Policy and Administration, where he served as director of the Master
of Public Administration program since 2016. His administrative experience also
includes serving as the associate director of the Biden School in 2018-19 and
president of the CAS Faculty Senate. He currently serves on the University
Faculty Senate’s budget committee.
Smith earned his
doctorate in public administration at the University of Georgia. Before joining
UD in 2016, he was an associate professor and director of the Finance
Specialization at New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of
Public Service. His research focuses on the effects of state fiscal
institutions, especially balanced budget requirements, and the implications of
how states accumulate and use fund balances in state rainy day funds,
unemployment trusts and pension funds.
Pelesko thanked
the members of the search committee, led by Murray Johnston, associate dean for
the natural sciences, for their work, noting that “a number of excellent
candidates” had applied for the associate dean position.
In other CAS
leadership announcements, several department chairs or directors were appointed
or reappointed to new terms, all effective Sept. 1. They are:
- Huantian Cao, professor of fashion and apparel studies,
appointed chair of the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies;
- David Satran, assistant professor of English,
reappointed director of the Associate in Arts Program for a second term;
- David Redlawsk, the James R. Soles Professor of
Political Science, reappointed chair of the Department of Political
Science and International Relations for a second term; and
- Patricia Sloane-White, professor of
anthropology, reappointed chair of the Department of Women and Gender
Studies for a second term.
Article by College of Arts and Sciences communications staff
Published July 7, 2021
