After 41 years at Duke University and 8 years as vice provost for interdisciplinary studies, Susan Roth has announced she will retire after her term expires on June 30, 2015.
A professor of neurosciences and psychology, Roth became Duke's second faculty leader of interdisciplinary studies in 2006 and oversaw development of Duke's seven signature institutes and other university-wide interdisciplinary initiatives.
Under Roth's leadership, Duke directed strategic funds to the interdisciplinary institutes and developed administrative and financial networks to ensure the work had strong support without weakening Duke's promotion of the traditional disciplines.
With the collaboration of leaders from the institutes and initiatives, Roth also developed Bass Connections to strengthen cross-discipline study in the undergraduate and graduate curricula, and introduce innovations in team based, problem-focused learning.
The development of the institutes and of interdisciplinary educational initiatives helped build Duke's international reputation for interdisciplinary research and teaching, Kornbluth said.
“Susan has been an invaluable member of the provost’s team and a driving force behind many of Duke’s signature interdisciplinary initiatives," Kornbluth said. "I will greatly miss working with her.”
Roth came to Duke University in 1973 as an assistant professor. She served as chair of psychology and neurosciences and worked as special assistant in both the president's and the provost's offices following her term as chair. Roth was appointed as dean of the social sciences in 2004 before being selected as vice provost for interdisciplinary studies.
Her scholarly publications have focused on the process of coping with traumatic life events. Her studies of sexually victimized women, including clinical treatment studies of adult survivors of childhood incest are well known, and she has served as president of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
She also is known as an accomplished teacher, earning the Trinity College Distinguished Teaching award for her Psychology of Women course.
Nominations and applications are being accepted through Jan. 5 and should be submitted electronically to susan.booth@duke.edu.
Nominations should include the name of the individual being nominated, link to the individual’s website, and a rationale for the nomination/description of qualifications. Applications should include a current CV, letter of interest describing how the applicant’s experience qualifies him/her for the position, and a vision statement addressing interdisciplinary challenges and opportunities both at Duke and nationally.
Kornbluth has named Michael Merson, vice president and vice provost of global strategy and programs and director of the Duke Global Health Institute, as chair.
Other members of the committee are:
- Lee Baker, Trinity College for Arts & Sciences
- Kelly Brownell, Sanford School of Public Policy
- Geraldine Dawson, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science
- Thomas DeFrantz, Department of African and African American Studies
- Elizabeth Frankenberg, Sanford School of Public Policy
- Suzanne Shanahan, Kenan Institute for Ethics
- Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Department of Philosophy and Kenan Institute for Ethics
- Stefan Zauscher, Pratt School of Engineering
Additional details can be found here.