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Mitchneck will oversee the college as it transitions into the new UA College of Letters, Arts and Science.

By Johnny Cruz, University Communications
June 29, 2009

Beth Mitchneck has accepted the position of interim dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at The University of Arizona.

Mitchneck, currently associate dean of academic affairs at the college and a professor of geography and regional development, will oversee the college as it transitions into the new UA College of Letters, Arts and Science.

"I'm pleased that Beth Mitchneck has accepted the interim role as dean during this critical time of transition for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences," said UA Provost Meredith Hay. "The new College of Letters, Arts and Science is an important step to maintaining and growing the quality of education in each of these academic areas."  

The new college – a partnership among the UA Colleges of Science, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences and Fine Arts – was developed as part of the UA's Transformation Plan.

The individual colleges will function in unison under the umbrella of the College of Letters, Arts and Science, or CLAS.

Science, SBS, Humanities and Fine Arts will continue to be managed by a dean and the overall structure will be governed by the executive dean, Joaquin Ruiz.

"I have worked with Beth in the past and have always been impressed by her commitment to our Institution, her typically elegant solutions to complex problems and her strategic vision," said Ruiz.

The new college was designed to streamline administrative functions while strengthening the academic areas that will allow the University to excel.

"I am honored to continue working with the SBS faculty and the leadership in CLAS to create a new structure to promote what we do best," said Mitchneck. "While my excitement is tempered by the obvious future challenges, I am convinced that we should approach transformation as a way to create new possibilities through partnership and collaboration across and within our community."

As SBS associate dean for academic affairs, Mitchneck has been responsible for matters involving faculty including promotion and tenure, sabbatical and other leaves, student outcomes assessment, diversity and other areas.

As a faculty member, Mitchneck's research specialties are migrations and governance. She is a co-principal investigator on the Georgia IDP project, a National Science Foundation-funded initiative looking at human displacement and social networks in post-conflict societies.

In addition, Mitchneck is engaged in research on gender equity in the academy, particularly as it relates to promoting the advancement of women in science. She directed the Center for Research on Equity and Opportunity that manages the UA's NSF ADVANCE grant until December 2008.

Mitchneck also is co-chair of the University's 2010 North Central Association reaccredidation process and will continue in that capacity.

Mitchneck has a bachelor's degree from Bryn Mawr College along with a master's degree and a doctorate, in geography, from Columbia University.