Appointment of Dr. Tanya Zlateva as Dean of the Boston University Metropolitan College
From Dr. Jean Morrison, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer
This fall, we launched a search for the next Dean of Boston University’s Metropolitan College (MET). We sought candidates, primarily from within the BU community, who would bring a record of distinguished scholarship, innovative academic and administrative leadership, and a strong commitment to enhancing the quality, variety, and flexibility of offerings in MET as an integral extension of BU’s global research and teaching. On behalf of President Robert A. Brown, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Tanya Zlateva as Dean of Metropolitan College.
Dr. Zlateva has served as Dean ad interim of Metropolitan College since 2013 and will assume her new permanent role effective immediately. With more than 25 years of experience as a faculty member and administrative leader at MET, Dr. Zlateva has the knowledge, capability, and vision to shape MET’s future as an innovator at the forefront of continuing education within an increasingly competitive environment.
Dr. Zlateva first joined MET in 1986 as a part-time instructor and became a full-time member of the faculty in 1990. An accomplished computer scientist, whose research interests include computational modeling of visual perception, parallel and distributed processing, cyber security, and digital learning, Dr. Zlateva has served as Chair of MET’s Department of Computer Science and as MET’s Associate Dean of Academic Programs. In these roles, she oversaw curriculum and faculty development and helped to grow new programs and delivery formats that increased the flexibility of MET’s offerings and their responsiveness to industry demands. Among these, she led the creation and launch of BU’s first programs in cyber security. In partnership, meanwhile, with colleagues from the College of Arts & Sciences’ Department of Computer Science, the College of Engineering’s Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, and the Questrom School of Business’s Department of Information Systems, she co-founded the Center for Reliable Information Systems and Cyber Security (RISCS) – a campus-wide institute committed to coordinating and promoting interdisciplinary work in information security research and education within BU, as well as outreach and collaboration with industry, government, and other universities.
Dr. Zlateva served as the founding director of RISCS from 2006 – 2013 and was instrumental in BU’s eventual designation as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. Dr. Zlateva’s proven ability to develop and lead interdisciplinary programs and initiatives that leverage the vast expertise of BU’s research and teaching faculty across schools and colleges make her an ideal choice to serve as MET’s Dean.
During her interim deanship of MET, Dr. Zlateva worked collaboratively with faculty and staff to develop new programs, grow enrollments, and increase the national and international visibility of MET’s existing high-quality programs. As a result, the 2016 U.S. News & World Report rankings of online programs include top-10 positions for the MET MS in Criminal Justice (ranked #1), the MET MS in Computer Information Technology (ranked #3), and the MET MS in Management (ranked #6).
Building on MET’s experience as a globally recognized provider of online programs, Dr. Zlateva has been pivotal in opening the resources of MET’s Office of Distance Education to support a range of programs and initiatives in digital learning and educational technologies across the University. Moreover, Dr. Zlateva has been a vital participant in the development of BU’s overall strategy for digital learning. As Dean of MET, she is well positioned to continue helping define and implement strategy in this critically important area. Dr. Zlateva holds an appointment as Professor of the Practice of Computer Science and Education in MET. She holds Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology from Dresden University of Technology.
I want to thank the members of the MET Dean Search Advisory Committee, whose efforts were vital to the success of this search. I would especially like to recognize Professor Chrysanthos Dellarocas of the Questrom School of Business for his leadership as Chair.
I hope that you will join President Brown and me in thanking Tanya Zlateva for her outstanding leadership of MET over the past three years as Dean ad interim, and in congratulating her on her permanent appointment as Dean. We are delighted that she will continue to build on MET’s strong foundation of success by leading and advancing Metropolitan College as an integral contributor to BU’s diverse and innovative academic portfolio.
Appointment of Dr. Tanya Zlateva as Dean of the Boston University Metropolitan College – 1.20.16