Appointment of Humanities Dean

I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Tyler Stovall as dean of the Humanities Division. His anticipated arrival on campus is Spring Quarter.

Stovall is currently on the faculty of UC Berkeley, where he is a professor of French history. This appointment marks a homecoming of sorts for Tyler, who spent 13 years as a faculty member in our own History Department, including three years as department chair and provost of Stevenson College.

Tyler specializes in modern French history, with a focus on transnational history, labor, colonialism, and race. As dean, he will be a vocal advocate for the humanities and a champion of the distinctive strengths of this campus—our commitment to undergraduate education, as well as our strengths in research, interdisciplinary scholarship, and graduate education. To learn more about Tyler, please read our campus news office's announcement of his appointment.

Tyler succeeds Bill Ladusaw, who has guided the Humanities Division with care and great skill since September 2010. Chancellor Blumenthal and I have relied on Bill's leadership, wise counsel, and friendship for many years, and we are grateful for his service to UC Santa Cruz.

I want to thank members of the search committee for their service, including committee chair David Yager, dean of the Arts Division, who oversaw the national search to fill this key academic leadership position.