Catherine Gunther Kodat, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, named Provost and Dean of the Faculty at Lawrence University

Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Catherine Gunther Kodat has been named Provost and Dean of the Faculty at Lawrence University. She will leave Lewis & Clark at the end of the academic year to begin her new post on July 1, 2017. 

In a note to the faculty and staff of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dean Kodat described why she sought a move, her love for Lewis & Clark, and her commitment to her remaining time here: 

I have made this decision for personal reasons. As many of you know, my father passed away last December… My mother is 84 years old, and while she is in fairly good health, I am not certain how much time together remains for us. And so I decided to see whether there might be an institution nearer Delaware that, like Lewis & Clark, would let me forward my commitment to the residential liberal arts college model of higher education. 

I love Lewis & Clark. Coming to this college, and being given the chance every day to do important, rewarding work with the faculty, my fellow deans, our President and Vice Presidents, has been a dream come true… . Today, and for a good while longer, I look forward to continuing to partner with you all to advance the good work that we do, together. 

Early in the new year President Barry Glassner will consult with CAS faculty on plans to identify new leadership for the College of Arts and Sciences. President Glassner wrote to the faculty: “I know you share with me a fundamental belief about the centrality of the liberal arts in shaping the future we hope to see. The importance of our work has never been greater.” 

Prior to joining Lewis & Clark in 2015, Kodat was acting provost and professor of humanities at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She previously was director of the American Studies Program at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. 

“On behalf of everyone at Lewis & Clark, I congratulate Katie and thank her for her service to our students and faculty,” Glassner said. “I enjoy working with her and am sorry to see her leave us, but I’m certain the Lawrence community will benefit from her strong leadership.”