PROVIDENCE – The dean of the college at Brown University is to lead Williams College as the 18th president of the Williamstown, Mass.-based school.
Announcements were made by both schools Tuesday afternoon.
Maud S. Mandel has served on Brown’s faculty for 20 years, four as the Ivy League school’s dean of the college – the senior undergraduate academic officer.
Since starting in 1997 as a visiting assistant professor in modern Jewish history, Mandel has taught various courses in history and Judaic studies, including heading the Judaic studies program since 2012.
In prepared remarks Mandel called Williams “an extraordinary institution,” adding that she is “excited to lead this extraordinary campus into the next phase of its development.”
In a statement announcing the appointment to the greater Williams community, chair of both the college’s board of trustees and its presidential search committee, Michael Eisenson said: “Maud embodies the values at our core and will provide exceptional leadership as we continue to pursue our shared aspirations for Williams.”
Applauding her achievements at Brown over the past two decades, Brown President Christina H. Paxson said in a statement: “Both inside the classroom and as a senior academic leader, Maud Mandel’s impact on the undergraduate experience at Brown has been nothing short of transformative. … [She] is a deeply knowledgeable higher education leader, a relentless champion for undergraduates and a truly inspiring colleague.”
Mandel holds a B.A. from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.
When her tenure begins on July 1, 2018, Mandel will take over for Protik (Tiku) Majumder, who has served as interim president since Jan. 1. The seat was most recently held for eight years by Adam F. Falk, who took up the presidency of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.
