Dean and Divisional Deans
Dianne Harris, Dean of Arts and Sciences
Dianne Harris is primarily responsible for establishing and implementing a vision and strategic priorities for the College, and for stewardship of the College’s resources. She works collaboratively with four divisional deans, members of her dean’s office leadership team, department chairs and directors, and other staff and faculty to support the very best liberal arts education and a research enterprise that has a positive impact on the lives of all those in our region and beyond.
Gabriel Solis, Divisional Dean of the Arts
Gabriel Solis supervises all departments and units in the College’s Arts Division, including five academic departments and the Burke Museum, Henry Art Gallery, and Meany Center for the Arts. He broadly supports the arts units in their teaching, research, and service and represents them with respect to personnel matters. A professor of music, Solis is an ethnomusicologist and music historian.
Brian Reed, Divisional Dean of Humanities
Brian Reed supervises all departments and units in the College’s Humanities Division, including 12 academic units, the Simpson Center for the Humanities, and the Language Learning Center. He broadly supports the humanities units in their teaching, research, and service, and represents them with respect to personnel matters. A professor of English, Reed is a past Rhodes and Fulbright Scholar.
Daniel Pollack, Divisional Dean of Natural Sciences
Daniel Pollack supervises all departments and units in the College’s Natural Sciences Division, including nine academic units and more than a dozen research centers, many of them interdisciplinary. He broadly supports the natural sciences units in their teaching, research, and service, and represents them with respect to personnel matters. A professor of mathematics, Pollack previously served as chair of the Arts & Sciences College Council.
Andrea Woody, Divisional Dean of Social Sciences
Andrea Woody supervises 13 academic units in the College’s Social Sciences Division and more than a dozen research centers, many of them interdisciplinary. She broadly supports the social sciences units in their teaching, research, and service, and represents them with respect to personnel matters. Woody is a professor and past chair of philosophy and adjunct professor of dance; history; and gender, women & sexuality studies.
College Administration
Peter J. Denis, Assistant Dean for Personnel
Peter Denis is a key problem solver in all manner of personnel, faculty, contractual, and policy issues that are part of the life of the College. He sits on all of the collective bargaining committees as the primary College liaison with Labor Relations and is engaged in all grievance issues regarding staff and faculty.
Xiaosong Li, Associate Dean for Research
Xiaosong Li is responsible for the strategy, operations, and implementation of the College’s research program. Li leverages his depth of experience in research administration and multi-disciplinary collaboration to support and elevate the research enterprise across the College’s four divisions, with a focus on faculty research support and grantsmanship.
Mindy Norris, Director of Facilities
Mindy Norris serves as the Director of Facilities for the UW College of Arts & Sciences. In this role, she oversees the planning, development, and maintenance of the College's physical infrastructure, ensuring that facilities meet the evolving needs of students, faculty, and staff.
Kevin Mihata, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
Kevin Mihata coordinates undergraduate policy and practice, advising, and curriculum across the four divisions of the College, and coordinates between Arts & Sciences and other colleges and units across the University. He is also the founding director of C21, whose mission is to reimagine the liberal arts student journey.
Linda Nelson, Associate Dean for Finance and Administration
Linda Nelson leads the administrative functions of the College and oversees the College’s business office and shared services teams. She provides high-level administration and guidance to the dean on all matters related to the college’s budget, including fund acquisition and expenditures, and she provides guidance to administrators in all Arts & Sciences units. Nelson was the primary College of Arts & Sciences lead on the Financial Transformation (FT) project.
Maya Angela Smith, Associate Dean of Equity, Justice and Inclusion
As the inaugural associate dean for equity, justice and inclusion (EJI), Maya Smith supports programs, policies, and practices that promote EJI across the departments and centers in the College’s four divisions. She articulates the College’s EJI vision and action plan, fosters communication among various Arts & Sciences units, and provides guidance on how to adapt University EJI goals to best serve each unit.
Kevin P. Thompson, Associate Dean for Advancement
Kevin Thompson leads the College’s integrated advancement office, which includes advancement services, corporate and foundation relations, development, and marketing and communications. He is responsible for securing private resources to support and advance the College’s mission and priorities, as well as directing how the College’s identity and work are shared with the broader community.
Lance Kissler, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications
Lance Kissler is responsible for the marketing and communications functions for the College, and works closely with College and University leadership to achieve strategic marketing & communications goals. He leads the College’s marketing and communications teams, which includes communications and outreach, visual design and brand consultation, and web strategy and services.
Greta Essig, Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Special Projects
Greta Essig helps advance Dean Dianne Harris’s vision for the College, collaborating with the Dean’s executive team and stakeholders across campus to implement new initiatives, including stewarding the Rethinking the Academy programs. Essig also supports new faculty onboarding, the College of Arts & Sciences staff council, employee recognition, and other initiatives.
Helen Øland, Director of Information Technology
Helen Øland serves as the Director of Information Technology at the College of Arts & Sciences. In this role, she oversees the strategic direction and operational management of the college's IT portfolio. Helen works closely with university’s IT leadership and departments within the college to align computing resources with the College’s academic and research goals.
Julianna Jones, Executive Assistant to the Dean + Director of Dean’s Office Support Staff
Julianna Jones is responsible for providing seamless support for Dean Harris’ activities, as well as the efficient staffing and hiring of the Dean’s Office Support Team. Jones manages several high-level administrative processes including new chair and director appointments, new chair and director annual workshops, special large-scale events on behalf of Dean Harris, and managing Public Records request for the College.