Glenn Chambers has been recommended to serve as the interim dean of Michigan State University’s Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, or RCAH.
Prior to the MSU Board of Trustees’ consideration of his appointment at its Sept. 8 meeting, Chambers will serve as interim dean designee, beginning on Aug. 7. From Aug. 1 through 6, David Sheridan, full professor in RCAH, will serve as responsible administrator for the college while Chambers completes research that includes travel.
Chambers currently serves as associate dean in MSU’s Honors College, where he works to foster stronger partnerships and relationships with undergraduate colleges across the university to ensure that students have optimal learning experiences and receive the support they need to succeed. He is also a member of the Honors College’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leadership Team.
Before his work in the Honors College, Chambers served as associate dean in the Office of Undergraduate Education, where he led projects associated with the implementation of the new student information system and engaged relevant academic and administrative units to make policy changes necessary to advance undergraduate student success. Prior to assuming the associate dean position in the Office of Undergraduate Education, he was director of the African American and African Studies Program at MSU, where he helped initiate the transition of the unit from a program to a full academic department.
“With his long history of working with faculty members in RCAH, Dr. Chambers will be a great partner in stewarding the college while we work on strategies and structures to secure and elevate the student and faculty experience in residential education in the arts and humanities,” said MSU Interim Provost Thomas Jeitschko. “Glenn is committed to undergraduate excellence and student success with a focus on high-quality, high-touch support, strengths he will bring with him to this interim leadership position.”
Chambers will succeed Dylan Miner, who has chosen to step down as dean to pursue another opportunity.
“Many thanks to Dean Miner for all of his work to advance the liberal arts and humanities at MSU and within RCAH,” said Jeitschko. “Dylan’s contributions as dean have advanced the college’s mission to create collaborative, community-engaged methods for addressing the complex problems facing local and global communities and to reimagine and build a more just, equitable and sustainable world.”
A faculty member in the Department of History, Chambers is a historian of the modern Caribbean, specializing in the former British colonies post-emancipation. He has authored two books on Caribbean immigration/migration along with a co-edited volume on the African diaspora, in addition to a host of scholarly articles. He earned his doctorate in Latin American and Caribbean history from Howard University.
“It will be both an honor and privilege to serve the RCAH community as interim dean,” said Chambers. “I am humbled to be selected for the position and look forward to working closely with RCAH faculty, staff, students and its many university partners to ensure that the mission and vision of the college continue to grow and nurture the MSU and broader community.”