President’s speeches, letters, and articles
Subject: An Announcement Regarding Reed’s Dean of the Faculty
December 20, 2019
Dear faculty, staff, and students,
It gives me great pleasure to announce the appointment of Kathryn (Kathy) Oleson as Reed College’s next Dean of the Faculty. She will assume her new position on July 1, 2020.
Kathy joined the Reed faculty in 1995 and is currently a professor of psychology. Kathy is an exemplary teacher and scholar who has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing Reed’s academic program. She earned her PhD in social psychology at Princeton University, funded by a National Science Foundation graduate fellowship. She was then a National Institute of Mental Health Postdoctoral Fellow at Ohio State University from 1993 to 1995. Kathy’s research background makes her particularly qualified for the Dean of the Faculty role; her current research project explores inclusivity in classrooms with a focus on classroom dynamics.
Since joining Reed, Kathy has also held numerous leadership roles. From July 2014 to June 2016, she served as the founding director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, where she demonstrated a collaborative leadership style and a focused commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Kathy’s appointment comes at the end of an extensive search process. I would like to thank the search committee chair, Marc Schneiberg, the entire search committee, and everyone who was involved in the search. I also would like to extend my deepest thanks to Nigel Nicholson, the outgoing dean, who will be returning to the Reed faculty as Walter Mintz Professor of Greek, Latin, and Ancient Mediterranean Studies after seven years of exceptional service to our community.
Please join me in congratulating Kathy!
Audrey Bilger
President