Who will fill the Dean’s shoes?

After 26 years at CC (and another 10 at Barnard), Dean of Academic Affairs Kathryn Yatrakis is stepping down, according to an email sent this morning from Dean Valentini. Twenty-six years is a long time! (We only have to spend four years here and cannot imagine/relate). However, the Dean will stay on as a faculty member in the Urban Studies program, so she’s not really leaving. To replace her, Deantini announced the creation of a new role, “Dean of Academic Planning and Administration,” which the university will shortly begin looking to fill.

Read Deantini’s email:

Dear Students:

I am writing to let you know that Kathryn Yatrakis will be stepping down from her role as Dean of Academic Affairs at the end this academic year after more than 26 years of exemplary service to Columbia College.

Dean Yatrakis first joined the College in 1989, after ten years as a faculty member in the Barnard College Department of Political Science. Previously, she also directed the Barnard-Columbia Urban Studies Program, where she has continued to teach and advise students throughout her time at Columbia. In her role at the College, Dean Yatrakis has been responsible for Columbia College academic policies and procedures, as well as The Center for the Core Curriculum, and has worked closely with the Columbia College faculty to strengthen and diversify the curriculum and improve academic services to our students. After stepping down from the administration, she will remain a member of the Urban Studies instructional faculty. It is with gratitude and appreciation that we acknowledge Dean Yatrakis’ many years of service to five Columbia College deans and many contributions to the Columbia College academic experience.

After consulting with faculty and other key partners, we have decided to create a new position, Dean of Academic Planning and Administration, that will bring together our academic administration, Core Curriculum and student advising. This new structure will support the relationship between curricular planning and policies and student advising to further propel the academic success of our students and faculty, while also providing greater connections between advising and faculty. The head of The James H. and Christine Turk Berick Center for Student Advising (CSA) will report jointly to the Dean of Academic Planning and Administration and to Professor Barclay Morrison, SEAS Vice Dean of Undergraduate Programs.

A search for the Dean of Academic Planning and Administration will commence shortly. As always, I value your perspectives and will seek student input in the search process. We expect to complete the search in the spring semester.

Sincerely,

James J. Valentini
Dean of Columbia College and
Vice President for Undergraduate Education
Henry L. and Lucy G. Moses Professor