Announcing the New Vice Provost for Faculty

Dear Members of the Carnegie Mellon Faculty:

I am pleased to announce that after a comprehensive internal search process, Dr. Molly Steenson has been appointed as the new Carnegie Mellon Vice Provost for Faculty, effective July 1, 2021.

Dr. Steenson is the senior associate dean for Research, College of Fine Arts; the K&L Gates Associate Professor of Ethics & Computational Technologies; and associate professor in the School of Design. Her exceptional research and leadership experience connecting people and ideas at the intersection of design, architecture, artificial intelligence and ethics, position her well to fill this critical role that supports faculty and academic administrators from across the university.

Under Dr. Steenson’s leadership, the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty will continue to foster long-term and effective strategic plans, so we can retain world-class scholars and wide-ranging perspectives in all of Carnegie Mellon's fields and disciplines.

Dr. Steenson will oversee all areas of faculty affairs and related policies, including recruitment and retention; the reappointment, tenure and promotion process; academic human resources issues; and faculty development. She will also serve as a liaison to faculty-related university committees.

I wish to express my gratitude to Dr. Jeanne VanBriesen, the Duquesne Light Company Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy, as well as Director of the Center for Water Quality in Urban Environmental Systems (Water QUEST), who served as Vice Provost for Faculty since 2019.

Dr. VanBriesen provided leadership and support during the unprecedented changes caused by the pandemic, including developing guidance for review and tenure clock delays due to COVID and supporting faculty and graduate students during remote and hybrid learning.

Carnegie Mellon is committed to attracting and retaining the best and brightest faculty and researchers, while supporting their scholarly pursuits and teaching needs every day. To ensure these efforts are being met, I look forward to working with Dr. Steenson and Dr. VanBriesen to plan a successful transition within the Vice Provost for Faculty Office.

In the meantime, please join me in thanking Dr. VanBriesen, and congratulating Dr. Steenson on her new appointment.

Sincerely,

Jim Garrett
Provost and Chief Academic Officer