Fulbright College Debuts New Responsibilities for Associate Deans

To better support Fulbright College’s departments, schools, programs, centers, faculty, staff, and students, Dean Brian E. Raines recently named several new and returning members of the Dean’s Office leadership team and debuted their updated responsibilities.

“Our Associate Dean team and I have been considering their roles and responsibilities over the summer, collaborating together to determine what configuration will work best in service to the college,” Raines said.

“As a result of that work, we settled on a slight reorganization that moves the Dean’s Office in a direction that better meets the needs of our team, which in turn helps us better serve the people of our college and to lead with equity and fairness,” he added.

To provide the highest level of support for the college, the new structure focuses on ensuring each major discipline of the college – the fine arts, natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities – is represented by an Associate Dean. Likewise, the overarching areas of research and infrastructure and academic affairs are also represented by the team.

The Fulbright College Associate Deans include:

• David McNabb, as Associate Dean for Research and Infrastructure
• Shauna Morimoto, as Associate Dean for the Sciences
• Christopher Schulte, as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
• Stephanie Ricker Schulte, as Associate Dean for Social Sciences
• Lia Uribe, as Associate Dean for the Arts & Humanities

ABOUT THE ASSOCIATE DEANS

David S. McNabb joined the U of A in its Department of Biological Sciences in 2000, where he has served as a faculty member, vice chair, and chair. His research interests center on the development and identification of antifungal compounds or peptides for potential use in the treatment of fungal infections in humans, the role of the CCAAT-binding factor in Candida albicans pathogenesis and the application of solid-state nanopores as single molecule detectors for applications in biological systems.

As Associate Dean for Research and Infrastructure, McNabb promotes best practices in the management and oversight of funded research initiatives, research space, and advance new and continued research activity. He also evaluates preproposals, oversees startup, research, and travel funds for the college, and works to coordinate research, grant-writing workshops, appropriate space usage, and inclusive excellence.

His responsibilities include representing the college on university committees related to research, space, and compliance; monitoring and facilitating faculty entrepreneurship/intellectual property; overseeing research travel, startup, and renovation funds; overseeing research centers and interdisciplinary science programs, engaging in space and infrastructure planning; and representing the college on the Graduate Council.

Shauna A. Morimoto joined the U of A in its Department of Sociology and Criminology in 2008 where she served as a faculty member and chair, and previously held the position of Provost Fellow for the Office of the Provost and Faculty Affairs. Her research interests include organizational inequalities, institutional transformation, intersectionality, and democratic participation and social change.

As Associate Dean for the Sciences, Morimoto works closely with natural sciences unit leaders to build and foster excellence in scholarship, teaching, service, and engagement. She partners with their units to address unit needs, brainstorm solutions, promote effective shared governance, and align unit efforts with the mission of the College and the University. Morimoto also works closely with the dean’s leadership team and campus partners to develop and support unit leadership, inclusive excellence, and advise the Dean on unit challenges and successes.

The primary areas she provides service and support to include Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Geosciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physics.

Christopher Schulte joined the U of A in its School of Art in 2019 in its Art Education area, and has served the school as Undergraduate Coordinator and Director of Graduate Studies in Art Education, Assistant Director of the School of Art, and Director of the School of Art. His research considers the artistic, play-based, and aesthetic practices of children, with particular attention given to drawing and its relationship to historical and contemporary childhoods.

As Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Schulte serves as a leader in assessment, accreditation, curricular innovation and international education. He works to ensure that college programs exceed accreditation and/or reputational benchmarks. Additionally, he oversees the student experience and student-related matters for the college to guarantee a high-quality student learning experience for all students and promote inclusive excellence.

His responsibilities include collaborating on and facilitating new academic programs, certificates, minors, and majors; conducting biannual assessments of program viability; supporting existing academic programs and accreditation, including program assessment; managing enrollment, small classes, Global Campus, and study abroad; serving as liaison to the college’s Honors program; and representing the college on the Undergraduate Council and the Strategic Enrollment Committee.

Stephanie Ricker Schulte joined the U of A in its Department of Communication in 2008 where she served as a faculty member, vice chair, and chair. Her research explores communication technologies, popular culture, and transnational media policy and examines the multidirectional relationships between technological design, American culture, and policymaking.

As Associate Dean for Social Sciences, Schulte works closely with social sciences unit leaders to build and foster excellence in scholarship and creative activity, teaching, service, and engagement. She partners with their units to address unit needs, brainstorm solutions, promote effective shared governance, and align unit efforts with the mission of the College and the University. Schulte also works closely with the dean’s leadership team and campus partners to develop and support unit leadership, inclusive excellence, and advise the Dean on unit challenges and successes.

The primary areas she provides service and support to include Anthropology, Communication, Political Science, Psychological Science, Social Work, and Sociology and Criminology.

Lia Uribe joined the U of A in its Department of Music in 2013 where she served as a faculty member, director of undergraduate studies, vice chair and chair, in which she was the second woman and first person of Latin heritage to chair the department. She is an internationally recognized bassoonist, chamber musician, orchestral player and teaching artist whose research is centered on Latin-American, Latinx and historically marginalized and underrepresented music and composers.

As Associate Dean for the Arts & Humanities, Uribe works closely with art and humanities unit leaders to build and foster excellence in scholarship and creative activity, teaching, service, and engagement. She partners with their units to address unit needs, brainstorm solutions, promote effective shared governance, and align unit efforts with the mission of the College and the University. Uribe also works closely with the dean’s leadership team and campus partners to develop and support unit leadership, inclusive excellence, and advise the Dean on unit challenges and successes.

The primary areas she provides service and support to include Art, Music, Theatre, English, History, Journalism, Philosophy, and World Languages.

A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD

“Fulbright College provides the core, the heart, of the educational experience to every single student at the U of A,” Raines said. “That is an incredible privilege and responsibility, and our work is nothing short of transformational.”

“With this in mind, and this leadership team at the college’s helm, I know we’re well poised to lead the college into a bright future and to have a remarkable positive impact on our students, community, and beyond as we lean into our college’s mission of peace through education.”

“If I, our Associate Deans, or others in the Dean’s Office can help in any way, please reach out and let us know,” he added.