Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies

 

Christy Friend was named associate dean for undergraduate studies. In this position, she will lead the Office of Undergraduate Studies, which oversees recruitment, advising, retention, and student services, while also connecting Arts and Sciences undergraduates with the university’s Career Center and Education Abroad Office. 
Friend was the unanimous recommendation of the search committee and had overwhelming support of more than 50 individuals who responded to a survey during the search process.

“My own experience during the interview process was consistent with the views of all of those who were involved,” interim dean Joel Samuels said in an email announcement. “Dr. Friend is an extraordinary choice to lead the Office of Undergraduate Studies. Through this process, she outlined a compelling vision for the office going forward, and I am confident that her leadership will enhance our student experience, leading to improved recruitment and retention.”

Dr. Friend is a professor of English Language and Literature who has held several administrative roles in the college and the university, including service as the director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and later as the director of the College of Arts and Sciences Incubator for Teaching Innovation.

She has served as interim dean for undergraduate studies since January. Samuels noted that Friend’s leadership has proven effective.

The college has already made great strides in streamlining and modernizing its approach to undergraduate studies,” he said. “I have enjoyed working with her and look forward to continuing to work together to support our students’ experience.”

Friend succeeds Loren Knapp, who led the college’s undergraduate services for years. Knapp retired in December, 2020.

Search process

The search committee for this position included:

• Todd Shaw, Interim Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and the Social Sciences (Search Committee Chair)
• Leslie Lovelace, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Tammi Richardson, Professor and Chair of Biological Sciences
• Claire Robinson, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Advisement, Director of University Advising Center
• Francisco Sanchez, Professor of Spanish and Comparative Literature, Assistant Chair, Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures
• Tia Stevens Andersen, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Program Director, Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Jeff Turner, Senior Instructor and Undergraduate Advisor, Department of Philosophy

Finalists for the position met with Samuels, the search committee, undergraduate directors, department chairs and unit directors, senior staff, and the Office of Undergraduate Studies staff, and gave public presentations. 

 

Associate Dean for Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences 

 

Nina Levine will serve as the associate dean for Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. In this role, she will provide leadership for department chairs, while also fostering discussion to advance the academic disciplines assigned to her.

Levine was the top ranked candidate of the search committee and had the overwhelming support of the 40 individuals who completed a survey during the search.

Samuels noted that Levine’s tenure as chair of one of the college’s largest departments prepared her to lead on a broader scale.

“Under her direction, the English department has been successful in curriculum development, teaching, research, advising and marketing,” he said. “During the interview process, Dr. Levine outlined a compelling vision for bringing the arts, humanities and social sciences together for conversation and collaboration. I am confident that her leadership will foster success across our arts, humanities, and social sciences disciplines, which lie at the very heart of a comprehensive liberal arts education.”

Levine is a professor of English Language and Literature with 30 years of service to the University of South Carolina. She has served as chair of her department since 2014, having also served as the department’s director of undergraduate studies and as associate chair. She is also an affiliate faculty member in the interdisciplinary Women’s and Gender Studies Program.

Levine succeeds Cynthia Davis, who is returning to the classroom after serving as associate dean for the past five years.

Search process

The search committee for this position included:

• Jeff Twiss, Interim Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, and Professor of Biology (Search Committee Chair)
• Andrea Henderson-Platt, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
• Dawn Hunter, Associate Professor of Studio Art, School of Visual Art and Design
• Yvonne Ivory, Associate Professor of German and Comparative Literature, Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures
• Jerry Mitchell, Professor and Chair, Department of Geography
• Jane Roberts, Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology
• Ken Shimizu, Professor and Chair, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

In addition to meeting with the search committee and with Samuels, the two finalists gave presentations that were open to all faculty and staff within the college and met in smaller settings with college senior staff; and faculty, staff and chairs working in the arts, humanities and social sciences.