Dear Campus Community,
It is my pleasure today to announce the appointments of two leaders for critical academic roles at Ithaca College. I have named Melanie Stein as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, and in consultation with me, Provost Stein has in turn named Claire Gleitman as dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences.
Melanie Stein has served as our interim provost since last August, and in that role she has demonstrated the leadership qualities and values essential to advancing the college’s academic enterprise. Prior to taking on that position, she served as dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences, from July 2019 to August 2021. I am confident that Ithaca College will benefit from her continued service on behalf of our faculty and our students. Her experiences as an administrator, a scholar, and an educator in the classroom make her well-suited to lead the ongoing implementation of the Ithaca Forever strategic plan and to guide our academic community through the next phase of its evolution.
Claire Gleitman has ably led the School of Humanities and Sciences as interim dean this past academic year. She assumed that role after nearly three decades of teaching, scholarship, and service to the Department of Literatures in English, earning a faculty excellence award in 2007 and again in 2017. She brings to this role extensive academic leadership experience, having served as a member of the Faculty Council Executive Committee, president of the H&S Faculty Senate, department chair, and coordinator of Women’s and Gender Studies.
It is important to note that during the 2019 national search that ultimately led to the appointment of Melanie Stein as dean of Humanities and Sciences, Claire Gleitman was one of the four finalist candidates selected by the search committee who met with members of the campus community as part of the search process.
As we continue the searches for the three open deanships, having these positions filled will provide us with valuable continuity and stability. I look forward to partnering with both Provost Stein and Dean Gleitman as we continue to center the student experience both inside and outside of the classroom.
Please read more about these two dedicated and determined leaders in this IC News story.
With gratitude,
La Jerne Terry Cornish
President