Carnegie Mellon Qatar Appoints Associate Dean for Diversity, Climate

Michael Trick, the dean of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), has created a new leadership role to oversee and guide the campus’ efforts to become a more diverse, inclusive and equitable learning and working community.

Annette Vincent will be CMU-Q’s first associate dean of diversity and climate. Vincent joined the CMU-Q faculty in 2012 and has served as program director for Biological Sciences since 2016. In her new role, Vincent will provide leadership in planning, implementing, and evaluating goals related to diversity, inclusion, climate and equity. 

Trick remarked: “This new role is integral to the Carnegie Mellon mission of cultivating a diverse, world class talent, encouraging collaboration and ensuring individuals can achieve their full potential. I am very pleased that Professor Vincent will be guiding our community as we continue to grow and thrive.”

Trick is also expanding the responsibilities of the academic area heads, a key role that encompasses education, curriculum, budget, program development and faculty hiring. The areas heads are: Gordon Rule in Biological Sciences, Fuad Farooqi in Business Administration, Khaled Harras in Computer Science, Selma Limam Mansar in Information Systems, and Marion Oliver and Dudley Reynolds in Arts and Sciences. 

“While some of the area heads are new in their roles, all of them have been at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar for several years,” said Trick. “I am proud to see that CMU-Q not only attracts superb educators from around the world, but many of our faculty members choose to stay in Qatar, to grow their careers and to give back to this academic community through university service.” 

Farooqi replaces John O’Brien, who will continue as senior associate dean for faculty and outreach. Harras replaces Kemal Oflazer, who will remain associate dean of research.

The new leadership team is already tackling their first challenge. As the pandemic continues to shift the way universities worldwide are delivering their curricula, CMU-Q has opted to begin the academic year in remote learning mode, with the possibility of shifting to hybrid mode when it is safe to do so.

“CMU-Q’s primary focus is to provide a quality education to our students, no matter what. This leadership team is seizing the challenge of pandemic restrictions and guiding our entire faculty to adapt the way we teach and engage with our students,” said Trick. “Although this year will look a little different, I am excited to see how our community comes together.”