Last modified: Tuesday, September 4, 2007
IU's Hanson appoints interim deans for Hutton Honors College and Women's Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Karen Hanson, Indiana University Bloomington provost and executive vice president, has named Jean C. Robinson, professor of political science and current director of graduate studies for that department, as interim dean of the IU Hutton Honors College. She also has named Catherine Pilachowski, the Daniel Kirkwood Chaired Professor of Astronomy and current chair of the Department of Astronomy, as interim dean of the Office of Women's Affairs.
"I am delighted and grateful that these two distinguished faculty have agreed to serve in these important positions. Jean C. Robinson and Caty Pilachowski have remarkable records as outstanding teachers, researchers and administrators," Hanson said. "They bring to these two positions strong academic credentials, a record of leadership in their disciplines, an understanding of IU and higher education, and a commitment to the students who choose to further their educations in the excellent programs at Indiana University, as well as a commitment to the faculty and staff who provide those programs. I am certain Jean and Caty will serve the university with distinction in these new roles."
Robinson has served as director of women's studies and as dean of the Office of Women's Affairs at IU, and has received two grants from the National Science Foundation, as well as funding from other major federal agencies. She is a founding member of Research Network on Gender, Politics and the State, an international research group, and has published extensively.
Robinson teaches courses on morality, religion and public policy, feminist political thought, gender and the state, and cross-cultural studies of gender, sexuality and family. Recipient of the IU President's Award for Distinguished Teaching (1996) and of six other teaching awards, her academic interests address social change and social movements, especially those movements that are directed at achieving greater levels of equality among people. Her current research is in education equality, and she also continues work on how social policy is negotiated among individual citizens, social movement organizations and those in political power.
Pilachowski served for more than 20 years on the scientific staff of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory in Tucson before being recruited to IU as the inaugural Kirkwood Chair of Astronomy. While with NOAO, she served as project scientist for the design and construction of the 3.5-meter WIYN Telescope.
Her astronomical research is in astronomy instrumentation, and studies of young star clusters and globular clusters, which are spherical collections of stars that orbit a galactic core as a satellite. Pilachowski also has been active in the areas of light pollution, and large telescope design and construction. She has been a leading figure in IU's OWA-sponsored Women in Science program. She has served on numerous national and international boards and committees and was president of the American Astronomical Society from 2002-2004.
As interim dean of the IU Hutton Honors College, Robinson replaces Hanson, who became the provost of Indiana University's Bloomington campus and executive vice president this past August.
Pilachowski's interim appointment succeeds Terry Dworkin's service as dean of the IU Bloomington Office for Women's Affairs. Dworkin has retired from her position as the dean of OWA, as she has retired from her faculty position as the Jack R. Wentworth Professor of Business Law in the IU Kelley School of Business.
Hanson will appoint search and screen committees for permanent deans in these two positions in the near future.
