�鶹��Ѱ�����

Provost Ann Stevens announced today that the College of Arts and Sciences will adopt a permanent structure as a unified college, implementing a collaborative leadership model in which the deans of divisions will report to the dean of the college rather than directly to the provost.

“After extensive discussions with the dean of the college, deans of divisions, faculty shared governance leaders, staff and colleagues across campus, I’ve concluded that the college needs to operate as a unified entity,” Stevens said. “To underscore that the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences play a central and vital role in �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder’s mission as a comprehensive university that educates the next generation of informed citizens and leaders, we need a structure that brings our strengths together with purpose.”

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ann Stevens

��

During the past decade, �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder has worked to reshape the leadership structure of the College of Arts and Sciences to better support its academic breadth, establishing three dean of division roles representing the arts and humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences. In June 2024, former Provost Russell Moore appointed Daryl Maeda as interim dean of the college to provide time to clarify how the authority of the deans of divisions should align with the dean of the college and how all four roles could work together more effectively.

During this interim period, the dean of the college and the deans of divisions have each reported directly to the provost. Their collective efforts have advanced the college in meaningful ways, including improving budget analysis and allocation, implementing the common curriculum, strengthening divisional research and creative work, and developing a deeper understanding of enrollment patterns and student needs.

Despite this progress, the absence of a unified leadership structure has limited the college’s ability to coordinate strategy and fully leverage the strengths of its divisions. Stevens emphasized that a single, collaborative college leader is needed to preserve strong divisional identities while providing cohesion and shared direction essential for long-term success.

“That means three well-resourced divisions, each led by deans committed to divisional excellence and cross-divisional collaboration, supported by one dean who can champion a shared vision and ensure the college fulfills its essential role in developing the whole student,” Stevens said.

She added that a unified College of Arts and Sciences will strengthen collaboration across campus. “A unified college will be a stronger collaborator and partner on student success with undergraduate education, enrollment management and student life,” Stevens said. “This unified structure also ensures students and faculty benefit from a cohesive, strategic framework for teaching, research, scholarship and creative work.”

With the new reporting structure in place, Stevens plans to use the coming months to further clarify the roles and authority of the college dean and divisional deans, and to strengthen how they all work together.

In fall 2026, the Office of the Provost will launch a nationwide search for a permanent dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Both internal and external candidates will be encouraged to apply, with the goal of appointing a dean who will be ready to begin in fall 2027.

To ensure continuity during this transition, Stevens said, “I have asked Daryl Maeda to serve as the dean of the college through academic year 2026–27 to provide continuity until a permanent dean is in place, and for the deans of divisions to continue in their current roles as well, but with a change in their reporting relationship to the college dean.”