Rutgers recently welcomed four new deans who bring impressive records of accomplishment and dynamic visions to advance the missions of their schools.
Here is an introduction to these new leaders at the university.
Mark Anner, School of Management and Labor Relations
Past Experience: Professor of labor and employment relations and political science at Pennsylvania State University; founding director of Penn State’s Center for Global Workers’ Rights and the university’s master of professional studies in labor and global workers’ rights program
Area of Research: Scholar of workers’ rights in supply chains
Quote: "I am deeply honored to join the Rutgers community to lead the School of Management and Labor Relations. It is a privilege to build upon the exceptional legacy of Dean Adrienne Eaton and to contribute to vibrant, world-class programs that equip students to tackle the complex challenges in today’s world of work.
"Rutgers’ outstanding faculty, students, and staff, its model of shared governance, and its commitment to social justice drew me here. I am excited to expand our impact through student success, academic excellence, robust scholarly research in the fields of labor relations and human resources, and meaningful local, national, and global community engagement."
George Leibowitz, School of Social Work
Past Experience: Professor and director of the doctoral program in social welfare and chair of the Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure Committee at Stony Brook University’s School of Social Welfare
Area of Research: Leibowitz is a licensed clinician specializing in adult and adolescent mental health and substance abuse treatment as well as an expert on opioid addiction.
His Vision: “I was drawn to Rutgers as a community. It has such extensive reach and tangible statewide impact, and I believe the School of Social Work can contribute significantly to community engagement—which is an integral part of Rutgers’ Academic Master Plan. The School of Social Work’s ranking by U.S. News & World Report (12th MSW program out of 319 programs nationally and 1st in New Jersey) was extraordinarily impressive to me as well.
"I was also compelled by the inventive ways the School of Social Work’s leadership has broken ground in innovative research areas that distinguishes it from other institutions. Its vast online programming and continuing education is focused on meeting the needs of the social work community in New Jersey and nationally—while actively working toward equity and inclusion.
"I am excited about my potential contributions. I want to bridge divides within our communities, make programs accessible and equitable, tackle barriers to education, and remind our community what brought them to social work and why they’re here.”
Christopher M. Span, Graduate School of Education
Past Experience: Professor in the Department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; former associate dean in the College of Education at Illinois
Area of Research: Span’s research focuses on the educational history of African Americans, particularly during the 19th century. He is widely recognized as a leading authority in this field. He has authored several influential works including From Cotton Field to Schoolhouse: African American Education in Mississippi, 1862-1875. Additionally, Span is a co-editor of Using Past as Prologue: Contemporary Perspectives on African American Educational History and has contributed numerous articles and book chapters on the subject.
Why Rutgers: "I joined Rutgers because of its deep commitment as a land-grant university to achieving excellence at scale for the public good. As the new dean of the Graduate School of Education (GSE), my vision is to uphold and advance this legacy. The GSE's inquiry, innovation, and impact over the past century have transformed our understanding of learning, teaching, knowledge production, equity, and social justice. Our work enhances lives and communities, equips educators and learners to address global challenges, and shapes the future through teaching, research, and community engagement.
"Here, the belief in the transformative power of education is evident. We work tirelessly to ensure that everyone, regardless of circumstance, has the right to learn and reach their highest potential. This is the profound impact of the GSE, and I consider it the greatest honor to serve as dean during this pivotal moment in history."
Angela Starkweather, School of Nursing
Past Experience: Starkweather served as the Chamings Endowed Professor in Nursing and assistant dean of research development at the University of Florida College of Nursing in Gainesville, Fla.
Area of Research: Starkweather is known for her research on pain and chronic illness management. Her work has focused on understanding the factors that contribute to acute chronic pain and implementing interventions to improve quality of life and health outcomes for people affected by chronic health conditions. She also works to mitigate health disparities in underserved populations.
Her Vision: “My priorities coming in as dean include spending some time getting to know and listen to our students, alumni, faculty and staff, as well as our partners, to understand the communities that we serve, and their priorities. Rutgers Health and the School of Nursing under Dean Linda Flynn established strong strategic plans including initiatives to advance diversity, equity and belonging. We’ll continue making progress on these, along with strengthening our academic practice partnerships.
"I am extremely excited to have conversations with the students and alumni at Rutgers about their educational experiences and to continue to work toward enhancing their preparation to either enter the workforce as new nurses, or advance their knowledge as practicing nurses. Working with our faculty, my hope is to continue to infuse the joy of being a nurse and ways to hold on to that joy, despite the challenges, in their educational journey and throughout their career.”
