Ann Schmiesing, professor of German and Scandinavian Studies, has been named interim vice provost and dean of the Graduate School effective June 20. Provost Russell L. Moore announced the appointment Tuesday, May 31.
鈥淚 look forward to collaborating with Ann to build upon and expand the good work being done in the Graduate School,鈥� said Moore. 鈥淗er passion and dedication to improving the graduate student experience, with a听university-first听mindset, will be an asset to CU-麻豆影院鈥檚 students, faculty and staff.鈥�
Schmiesing succeeds former dean of the Graduate School John Stevenson, who is returning to the faculty after five years in the dean鈥檚 role. Given the important and changing nature of the vice provost and dean of the Graduate School position, the Provost expects to engage in a dialog with students, faculty and staff to develop a plan for a permanent hire.
鈥淚 appreciate greatly the opportunity provided by Provost Moore to lead our university鈥檚 Graduate School,鈥� said Schmiesing. 鈥淚 am eager to engage our faculty, students and staff, and I believe that we can work together to increase the reputation of our university, develop additional revenue streams, and most importantly, improve the lives of our students.鈥�
A prolific author in her field, Schmiesing has also published and presented on several issues in humanities pedagogy, including service learning and curriculum development.
She has served as chair, undergraduate and graduate associate chair in the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures and is the current director of the Sewall Residential Academic Program. Her extensive service to the university includes serving as co-chair of the Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum Revision Committee, and serving as a member of the Arts and Sciences Graduate Program Review Committee. She is the 2016 recipient of the BFA Excellence in Leadership and Service Award.
Schmiesing received an MA in comparative literature from the University of Washington and a PhD in German from Cambridge University.
With the interim appointment, Moore also announced a shift in reporting for university institutes, supporting Schmiesing鈥檚 focus on the graduate student experience. Terri Fiez, the Vice Chancellor for Research, will oversee institute reporting requirements during the interim period.
鈥淚 am eager to engage our institute directors and college deans in additional conversations to continue to improve CU鈥檚 national and international standing in research productivity,鈥� said Moore. 鈥淭his temporary restructuring will ensure that the opportunities created by our institutes remain a top priority and create greater synergy and innovation between the institutes and our colleges.鈥�
