The deadline for nominating professors for Dean of Columbia College has passed, and the Selection Committee is now starting to sift through the internal candidates in the hope of choosing a new dean by the end of the semester (only a month away!).
I'm excited that this process is taking place with three student representatives (including the CCSC President-elect, Karishma Habbu) and alumni representation—factors that will ensure some of the interests that have been marginalized in recent events are represented in this search.
As for me, I hope they select Professor Andrew Delbanco, the director of Columbia's Center for American Studies and recipient of the National Humanities Medal.
Though his name is less recognizable than our interim dean Prof. James Valentini, I think Delbanco is precisely the person for this job.
