Interim Dean Alan Mathios Appointed Dean of Human Ecology

The University announced on Tuesday evening that Prof. Alan Mathios, policy analysis and management, has been named the Rebecca Q. and James C. Morgan Dean of the College of Human Ecology. Mathios has been serving as interim dean since Lisa Staiano-Coico Ph.d ’81 stepped down last July [1] to take on the provost position at Temple University in Philadelphia.

“I am delighted that Alan has agreed to serve as the dean of the College of Human Ecology … He has done an exceptional job as interim dean, and I am fully confident that he will continue to do so in the permanent role of dean. His leadership is certain to be of great benefit to both the college and to interdisciplinary programs throughout the University,” Provost Carolyn “Biddy” Martin stated in a press release.

Mathios’s five-year term will begin on July 1.

“I am honored, humbled and excited to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading the college on its amazing trajectory,” stated Mathios in a press release.

The search committee was led by John Siliciano, law, a vice provost. Earlier this summer, the small number of applicants still in the running were brought to campus for confidential screenings.

Mathios previously served as associate dean for academic affairs and undergraduate education for the College of Human Ecology, a position he held from 2004 to 2007. He was also the associate chair and director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Policy Analysis and Management. Mathios came to Cornell in 1992 after working at the Federal Trade Commission.

Human Ecology's transition from Staiano-Coico to Mathios is not an isolated incident. Rather, it is part of a University-wide trend of upper-level administrative turnover.

According to Siliciano, who is also overseeing a search for the next dean of Art, Architecture and Planning, the next AAP dean should be announced in the very near future. W. Stanley Taft has served as interim dean of AAP since Mohsen Mostafavi resigned to become dean of the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University [2] at the end of the Fall 2007 semester.

Prof. Alice Pell, animal science, director of the Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development, will replace David Wippman as vice provost for international relations and will also begin on July 1.

Lastly, in the wake of Biddy Martin's impending departure from Cornell, Deputy Provost David Harris will serve as interim provost during the University's search for a new provost. As of yet, no replacement has been named for Robert Harris, who will be stepping down from his position of Vice Provost of Diversity and Faculty Development to return to his faculty position in the Africana Center.