Editor’s note: The message below was sent to the College of Liberal Arts community this week by Provost and Executive Vice President Marion Underwood.
Dear Colleagues:
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Professor of Economics Elissa Braunstein as Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, effective Feb. 19, 2024. Dr. Braunstein recently completed a five-year tenure as Chair of the Economics Department and currently serves as Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Programs in the College of Liberal Arts. She also is an affiliate faculty member with the Center for Women’s Studies & Gender Research in the Department of Ethnic Studies.
Dr. Braunstein has nearly 20 years of experience serving our community. She joined CSU in 2005 from the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Dr. Braunstein has worked as a Senior Economist at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). She publishes widely in both academic and policy venues, and has done consulting work for a number of international development institutions, including the International Labour Organization, the World Bank, the United Nations Research Institute on Social Development, and UN Women.
Dr. Braunstein will succeed Dean Ben Withers, who has accepted the position of Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University. Dr. Withers will remain in his role at CSU through Friday, Feb. 16. CSU will conduct a national search for the next Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and we fully expect to attract excellent candidates from both within our institution and across the country. We will share more information in the coming weeks on the search process and the announcement of a search committee once selected.
I am grateful to Dr. Braunstein for her willingness to serve as Interim Dean during this transitional period for the College of Liberal Arts. Under her leadership, the college will be well-positioned to continue its trajectory of strategic growth, innovation, outstanding education, scholarship and research. Please join me in congratulating her on this new leadership role.
With Appreciation,
Marion
Marion K. Underwood, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President
