Chairs

Department and program chairs typically rotate on a five year basis. 
Chairs of departments play significant roles in:
  • The promotion and tenure process
  • The development of annual budgets
  • Organizing the annual schedule of courses
  • Staffing
  • All other leadership roles in departments

Chairs and Directors meet several times a year as a group chaired by the Dean of the College.

Department Chairs & Academic Program Directors 2025-2026

American Studies:  Sean Patrick O'Rourke

African & African-American Studies: Emmitt Riley

Anthropology: Celeste Ray 

Art, Art History, & Visual Studies:  Chair, Jessica Wohl and Assistant Chair, Leslie Todd

Asian Studies:  Alison Miller

Biochemistry:  Clint Smith

Biology:  Matthew Schrader and Kristen Cecala 

Business:  Eric Zinn

Chemistry:  Rob Bachman

Classics:  Christopher McDonough 

Earth & Environmental Systems:  Lily Thompson 

Economics:  Aaron Elrod

English & Creative Writing:  Matthew Irvin

Environmental Arts & Humanities:  Lisa Burner 

French & French Studies:  Don Rung

German & German Studies:  Richard Apgar 

History:  Matthew Mitchell 

Integrated Program in the Environment:  Deborah McGrath

Interdisciplinary Humanities:  Derek Ettensohn

International & Global Studies:  Emmanuel Asiedu-Acquah

Italian:  (see Spanish & Italian)

Mathematics & Computer Science:  Catherine Cavagnaro

Medieval Studies & Early Modern Studies:  Matthew Mitchell

Music:  Stephen Ray Miller

Neuroscience:  Chris Shelley

Philosophy:  Chris Conn

Physics & Astronomy:  Rob Bachman (Acting)

Politics:  Mila Dragojevic 

Psychology: Kate Cammack

Religious Studies:  Eric Thurman

Rhetoric:  Sean Patrick O'Rourke

Russian:  Mark Preslar

Spanish & Italian:  David Colbert-Goicoa 

Theatre & Dance:  Jennifer Matthews 

Women's & Gender Studies:  Melody Lehn

(updated 6/30/25)