The quality and reputation of CAS depends on the quality and reputation of our faculty. We continue to place great emphasis on hiring the best young scholars and teachers, and in 2012/2013 we recruited an exemplary cohort of 16 new assistant professors in fields across the humanities and social and natural sciences.
Most of the faculty we recruit are at the early stages of their careers—individuals who have the best, most recent training in their fields and who share the common characteristic of being fast off the mark in developing their skills as teachers and making their own research breakthroughs. We sometimes also identify more senior professionals who can bring special expertise and leadership to Boston University. During 2012/2013, we recruited two such individuals to join the faculty of the College of Arts & Sciences. Anthony Janetos, former director of the Joint Global Change Research Institute at the University of Maryland, was appointed professor of earth & environment and director of the Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer Range Future. He was also previously vice president of the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment in Washington, DC, where he directed the center’s Global Change Program; and he has participated in policy discussion on global change at a high level. Another key senior appointment is former ambassador and career-long Foreign Service officer Robert G. Loftis, who was appointed professor of the practice of international relations. His many previous assignments include serving as acting coordinator for reconstruction and stabilization (2010–12), special representative for avian and pandemic influenza (2009), senior adviser for security negotiations and agreements (2004–07), ambassador to Lesotho (2001–04), and deputy chief of mission in Mozambique (1999–2001). (See Appendix, Table 6. New CAS Faculty, AY 2012/2013.)
The newest CAS faculty members have been chosen for their deep knowledge of their fields and demonstrated affinity for “crossing borders”—that is, engaging in interdisciplinary interaction that reaches across all departments. Interdisciplinary research is a longstanding and fine tradition of Boston University and the College of Arts & Sciences. Examples abound. The College includes many interdisciplinary programs and centers, such as those focusing a particular region of the world. Faculty members regularly create working groups and lead discussions that facilitate sharing of research and other professional concerns across disciplines. Our newest faculty members have been especially focused on making research and intellectual connections across disciplinary boundaries.
Consider Tertulia (Spanish for a social gathering with literary or artistic overtones), a research seminar founded by and dedicated to assistant professors across the humanities and, increasingly, the social and natural sciences. Tertulia has attracted financial support from the BU Center for the Humanities (BUCH). Junior faculty have also self-organized an informal seminar on studies of gender and sexuality. The Research in American and Comparative Politics (RAC) group has been largely organized by assistant professors in political science, but is open to all who are interested. RAC offers these scholars an opportunity to vet ideas for research papers and otherwise share ideas about subjects of common interest, helping all participants become more productive.
Professors Wiebke Denecke and Sunil Sharma, both in the Department of Modern Languages & Comparative Literature, crossed academic borders by organizing informal faculty gatherings—open to all interested faculty members—around the subject of pre-modern societies. The gatherings frequently drew standing-room-only crowds. These events received support from BUCH.
Interdisciplinary efforts also involve the formal curriculum. The course Gender and Sexuality (WS 101/102), offered for the first time this year, is taught by an interdisciplinary team of three professors—a natural scientist, a humanist, and a social scientist. This gateway, team-taught, multidisciplinary course focuses on the origins, diversity, and expression of gendered and sexed individuals. Of course, the Core Curriculum is a signature integrated interdisciplinary program that has, for many years, been available to all CAS undergraduates in their freshman and sophomore years.
We have continued to take steps aimed at supporting our faculty and their successes. Over the past few years, we have managed our resources to provide annual professional expenses accounts to all research-active faculty members in fields that cannot depend on extramural funding. The accounts are modest in size ($2,000) considering the large cost of research, but they give faculty a significant boost by allowing them to travel to research sites or attend conferences; conduct surveys; or purchase books, computers, software, and other items in support of their research.
During 2011/2012, BU made a set of major policy changes that will affect the careers of all CAS assistant professors. The University approved changing the standard tenure clock from six to seven years; the change was made this past year. The change in the tenure clock brings us in line with many peer research universities and is recognition of the greater pressures on assistant professors in this era of raised standards and restricted availability of federal research funding. During 2012/2013, the University approved a Junior Scholarly Leave program to support assistant professors’ efforts to develop their careers. The program gives assistant professors who have successfully completed their mid-tenure review the opportunity to take a one semester leave of absence to concentrate on their research and build a portfolio of professional accomplishments before they are reviewed for tenure and promotion.
Promotions
In 2012/2013, ten CAS assistant professors were promoted to the rank of associate professor with tenure: Elizabeth Blanton, astronomy; Brooke Blower, history; Arianne Chernock, history; Irit Ruth Kleiman, romance studies: French; Sigrun Olafsdottir, sociology; Merav Opher, astronomy; Zhongjun Qu (GRS’03,’05), economics; Corey J. Stephenson, chemistry; and J. Keith Vincent, modern languages & comparative literature: Japanese & comparative literature. In addition, Cheryl Knott, associate professor of anthropology, was granted tenure.
Twelve CAS faculty were promoted to the rank of professor: Robert Carey, physics; Jodi Cranston, history of art & architecture; James Johnson, history; Jonathan Klawans, religion; Kimberly McCall, biology; Meers Oppenheim, astronomy; M. Daniele Paserman, economics; Anita Patterson, English; Nathan Phillips, earth & environment; Kimberly Saudino, psychology; David Somers, psychology; and Jenny White, anthropology. (See Appendix, Table 7. Faculty Tenure and Promotion, AY 2012/2013.)
Finally, thirteen CAS faculty members retired from active service as professors and, after a vote of the faculty, were granted the title of professor emeritus or emerita, a mark of respect for colleagues who exemplify the highest values of the academic profession. These newly retired faculty include Ian Callard, biology; Clemency Coggins, archaeology; Peter Doeringer, economics; Anna Geifman, history; Irene Gendzier, political science; Thomas Glick, history; Stjepko Golubic, biology; Elizabeth Godrick, biology; Elizabeth Goldsmith, romance studies; Thomas Kunz, biology; H. Joachim Maitre, international relations; and Sidney Tamm, biology. In addition, Gail Patt retired and was granted the title of associate professor of biology emerita.
Annual Report 2012/2013
From the Dean
From recruiting ever-better faculty and students to engaging in path-breaking research, academic year 2012/2013 was a year of great accomplishments.
Recruiting Excellent Undergraduates
CAS again attracted excellent students who bring with them a wealth of interesting experiences and who are eager to pursue their education in a large and exciting university in one of the major cities of the world.
Strengthening Graduate Education
BU and the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences laid the groundwork for a tremendous strengthening of the quality of doctoral programs by developing a new budget model.
Strengthening the Quality of the Faculty
In 2012/2013, CAS recruited an exemplary cohort of 16 new assistant professors in fields across the humanities and social and natural sciences.
Enhancing the Research Mission
This year, Boston University was welcomed into the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization of leading North American research universities—an accomplishment to which CAS, with its portfolio of research in the natural and social sciences and the humanities, was a key contributor.
Strengthening Connections to the Community and the World
The College’s commitment to make the world a better—and better-understood—place contributes to BU’s growing reputation as a leading, global university.
Managing Our Financial Resources
Despite the challenges facing all of higher education in recent years, careful fiscal management has allowed the College to again make progress toward achieving its long-term goals.
Nurturing Connections with Alumni and Friends
The College continues to develop new opportunities for continuing education, networking, and socializing to help alumni and friends stay connected.
A Community in Mourning
The BU community and CAS came together in many ways in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings.
Our Impact, Your Impact: The Campaign for CAS
In 2012/2013, BU entered the public phase of its first capital campaign, inspiring many alumni, parents and other friends of CAS to step up support for our annual fund and critical projects.
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