by Alexandra Valnoski
The College of Arts and Science announced the appointment of Bonnie J. Dow, professor of communication studies and chair of the department, as the divisional dean of humanities. The appointment will become official on July 1.
“I am very pleased that Professor Dow has agreed to serve in this key role for the college,” said College of Arts and Science Dean Lauren Benton. “Professor Dow possesses all the qualities of an effective academic leader: impeccable scholarly taste, a distinguished record of research, and the trust of her colleagues.”
A new administrative structure featuring divisional deans was announced last year as part of Benton’s vision for the college. David Wright, Stevenson Professor of Chemistry, serves as the dean of sciences. Kamal Saggi, Frances and John Downing Family Professor of Economics, is the dean of social sciences. During the 2016-17 academic year, Benton acted as the interim dean of humanities.
“I have built my career in and around the humanities and am excited to serve my colleagues and our students in this role,” Dow said. “[lquote]The college has a talented faculty and a diverse set of departments and programs in the humanities, and I look forward to working with Dean Benton to further strengthen scholarship and teaching across the division.”[/lquote]
Dow is professor and chair of communication studies and professor of women’s and gender studies. Her research interests include the rhetoric and representation of the first and second waves of feminism in the United States. Her publications include Watching Women’s Liberation, 1970: Feminism’s Pivotal Year on the Network News (University of Illinois Press, 2014) and Prime-Time Feminism: Television, Media Culture, and the Women’s Movement Since 1970 (University of Pennsylvania Press, 1996).
Dow will lead a division comprising 19 departments and programs in the humanities as well as two interdisciplinary centers, the Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities and the Center for Digital Humanities.