CAMPUS NOTICE

 

OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR

August 6, 2019


ALL ACADEMICS AND STAFF AT UC SAN DIEGO

Subject:    Reappointment of Cristina Della Coletta as Dean of the Division of Arts and Humanities

We are delighted to inform the campus community of the continued
appointment of Cristina Della Coletta as dean of the Division of Arts
and Humanities following a successful five-year review. The review
committee concluded, and we wholeheartedly agree, that Dean Della
Coletta has provided outstanding leadership in her capacity as dean. The
Division of Arts and Humanities has flourished with an enhanced
reputation during her first term.

The Division of Arts and Humanities is home to a highly acclaimed,
world-class faculty, frequently cited by U.S. News and World Reports
(USNWR) and other prestigious rankings. Under Dean Della Coletta’s
leadership, UC San Diego has risen to 28th in USNWR’s Best Global
Universities in the arts and humanities, several sub-disciplines within
the division rank in the top 10 and even top 5 internationally, and
graduate programs in the arts and humanities have received highly
favorable reviews. Dean Della Coletta has demonstrated a deep commitment
to fostering a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Her efforts
have included organizational changes that have led to hiring an
impressive number of excellent new faculty who are women and/or members
of traditionally under-represented minority groups, enhancing the
reputation and prestige of the university.

Throughout the review process, Dean Della Coletta was universally lauded
for catalyzing four innovative academic initiatives: The Institute of
Arts and Humanities, the Institute for Practical Ethics, the Analytical
Writing Program, and the Mellon grant, establishing the PATH Summer
Academy. Each initiative required heavy engagement and tremendous
personal effort from the dean. Faculty and leadership across the campus
referenced these initiatives as impressive achievements, of benefit not
only to the Division of Arts and Humanities, but to the campus as a
whole. In particular, Dean Della Coletta took the lead in writing the
PATH grant, which was the largest grant ever received by the division.
The $2.59 million award supports the division’s collaboration with the
San Diego Community College District (SDCCD), and the program aims to
advance diversity and improve outcomes for transfer students majoring in
arts and humanities disciplines.

Dean Della Coletta has also shepherded a new initiative for Arts and
Community Engagement (ACE), which aims to build a multidisciplinary art
community of students, faculty, staff and off-campus members. The goals
of ACE are to develop multifaceted activities that promote cultural and
social dialogue, to engage partners across campus and the San Diego
community at large with the arts, and to provide oversight and greater
visibility to the Mandeville Art Gallery.

We are pleased to acknowledge the many advances during Dean Della
Coletta’s first term, and we extend our sincere appreciation to the
review committee for its thorough work and insightful suggestions for
continuing support of the Division of Arts and Humanities. Please join
us in congratulating Dean Della Coletta on her renewed appointment and
in thanking her for her outstanding service to UC San Diego. We look
forward to her continued leadership of the Division of Arts and
Humanities, her partnership on critical issues of importance to the
campus, and her powerful advocacy for the arts and humanities.



Pradeep K. Khosla
Chancellor

Elizabeth H. Simmons
Executive Vice Chancellor