The beginning of the 2026-27 academic year brings new courses, new students, and new leadership appointments in Arts & Sciences. Chairs and directors provide essential leadership and service to their respective units, and we are grateful to all current and past faculty members who have taken on these roles. This year, new chairs or directors have been appointed in nine departments and programs.

African and African American Studies

Incoming chair: Marlon Bailey, professor of African and African American studies, and of women, gender, and sexuality studies
Outgoing chair: Shanti Parikh, professor of sociocultural anthropology and of African and African American studies

American Culture Studies

Incoming director: Rebecca Wanzo, professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies
Outgoing director:  Elaine Peña, professor of performing arts, American culture studies, and anthropology

The John and Penelope Biggs Department of Classics

Incoming chair: Tom Keeline, professor of classics
Outgoing chair: Tim Moore, the John and Penelope Biggs Distinguished Professor of Classics

Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences

Incoming interim chair: Philip Skemer, professor of Earth, environmental, and planetary sciences
On leave: David Fike, the Glassberg/Greensfelder Distinguished University Professor of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences

East Asian Languages and Cultures

Incoming interim chair: William Acree, vice dean of interdisciplinary initiatives and innovations and professor of Spanish
Outgoing chair: Lingchei Letty Chen, professor of modern Chinese language and literature

Education

Incoming chair: Kit Wellman, professor of philosophy
Outgoing interim chair: Peter Kastor, the Samuel K. Eddy Endowed Professor and Associate Vice Dean of Research

English

Incoming chair: Jessica Rosenfeld, professor of English
Outgoing chair: Abram Van Engen, the Stanley Elkin Professor in the Humanities

Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies

Incoming interim chair: Pamela Barmash, professor of Hebrew Bible and Biblical Hebrew
Outgoing chair: Jonathan Judaken, the Gloria M. Goldstein Professor of Jewish History & Thought

Music

Incoming chair: Alexander Stefaniak, professor of musicology
Outgoing chair: Patrick Burke, professor of music