Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff Members,

I recently shared with you that Provost and Dean of the Faculty Tomoko Sakomura is beginning the academic year on medical leave. I am writing today with a brief update: Kathleen Howard, Edward Hicks Magill Professor of Mathematics & Natural Sciences and Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry, has agreed to serve as acting provost and dean of the faculty during Tomoko’s leave, effective Sept. 3.

A member of the Swarthmore community since 1997, Kathleen brings extensive leadership experience and outstanding judgment to this critical position. She has served as chair of her department as well as on numerous College committees, including Promotion and Tenure, Educational Policy, and Faculty Procedures.

Kathleen’s research, which focuses on the use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate the properties of membrane-bound molecules, has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and Merck, bringing in more than $2.3 million in grants. She earned an A.B. in chemistry from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Yale University. She was also a postdoctoral fellow in chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. In the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department, Kathleen has taught at all levels of the curriculum, including physical chemistry, integrated experimental chemistry, introductory chemistry, and advanced topics seminars in biophysical chemistry. She has also published extensively in the nation’s most highly regarded peer-reviewed journals, frequently with undergraduate co-authors.

During this interim period, Kathleen will assume the full responsibilities of the position, overseeing the curriculum and the faculty. All academic departments report to the provost and dean of the faculty, as do the Libraries; Athletics, Recreation & Wellness; and Information Technology Services. The provost chairs the Council on Educational Policy and the Curriculum Committee and is a member of the Committee on Faculty Procedures (COFP) and the Committee on Promotion and Tenure, among others. With the support of the Provost Office staff, the provost works with department chairs on appointments, reappointments, and tenure and promotion decisions; develops budgets for the academic programs; provides faculty with opportunities for professional development as scholars and teachers; and proposes, evaluates, and implements curricular changes.

I want to express my deep gratitude and appreciation to Kathleen for taking on this acting role during Tomoko’s leave. I look forward to working with her — and all of you — as we begin this academic year. 

Sincerely,

Val Smith
President