Mellon College of Science Leadership Transition

Dear Members of the Carnegie Mellon Community:

I write to share the news that Rebecca Doerge has informed me of her decision to step down as the Glen de Vries Dean of the Mellon College of Science (MCS). Dean Doerge has accepted the position of provost at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). She will continue in her current role until August 1, 2023, at which point Curtis A. Meyer, Otto Stern Professor of Physics and MCS associate dean for research, will serve as interim dean while a comprehensive search is conducted for a permanent replacement.

Since joining CMU in 2016, Dean Doerge has brought strong leadership, vision and innovation not only to the Mellon College of Science, but to the university as a whole. She was instrumental in the development and launch of the future of science initiative that outlines strategic areas of scientific research and opportunity for MCS as well as the collective CMU community. Under Dean Doerge’s leadership, CMU committed to building a new $210 million science building, supported by a $75 million lead grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, and to open the world’s first academic cloud lab. During her time as dean, she co-led many collaborations. These include the launch of the CMU-Pitt Brain Imaging Data Generation and Education (BRIDGE) Center, a research-dedicated neuroimaging facility focused on data analytics and basic science research and the leadership transition of the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, a joint center between CMU and the University of Pittsburgh that is home to some of the most powerful systems for high performance computing, communications and data storage.

Other notable highlights from Dean Doerge’s leadership tenure include establishing a new administrative structure in MCS and advancing CMU’s commitment to developing interdisciplinary scientific inquiry. She oversaw the establishment of the M.S. in Data Analytics for Science (MS-DAS) program, a college-wide master's program tailored for students with backgrounds in the foundational sciences. In 2021, she was reappointed to a second term as dean to continue her role in supporting CMU’s long-term vision of revolutionizing science by combining automation, machine learning and data science with the foundational sciences. 

Dean Doerge has been a dedicated proponent of our diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) efforts. In 2022, she received the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh Ally Award, which honors a person for their role as an ally, advocate and champion to women of color and their contributions to bringing equity to Pittsburgh. She has brought DEIB to the forefront of MCS’s values, seeking to foster an inclusive and diverse community and to ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

I extend my sincere gratitude to Dean Doerge for all she has done to advance the mission of MCS as a leading place for scientific discovery and innovation. Her talent and enthusiasm have certainly left a mark on CMU. Please join me in congratulating her on her new role as provost at RPI.

Sincerely,

Jim Garrett
Provost and Chief Academic Officer