Following a national search, Thomas J. LeBlanc has been named the College's dean of the faculty of arts, sciences, and engineering. In that role, he is the chief executive officer of the College with primary responsibility for its academic, administrative, and research activities. The dean of the College and the dean of engineering report to him.
LeBlanc served as interim College dean during the 1996-97 year.
"The search committee, chaired by Prof. Paul Slattery, conducted an intensive, rigorous national search, and identified a number of extremely well-qualified candidates," said Provost Charles E. Phelps. "I am happy to say that the best of the best was indeed a member of our own faculty.
"Dean LeBlanc has shown his managerial acumen and deep understanding of College issues during his interim deanship. After a full review of candidates nation-wide, the search committee was enthusiastic about his candidacy, and President Jackson and I are most pleased by his decision to accept the deanship on a permanent basis," Phelps said.
"I am delighted that Tom LeBlanc has been selected to be dean," Slattery said. "I know I speak for the entire search committee in wishing him great success as the first permanent dean of the College faculty -- a new title reflecting a more efficient and effective organization of the College administration."
In addition to Slattery, the search committee included Anne Myers, chemistry; Doug Ravenel, mathematics; Joanna Scott, English; Emil Homerin, religion and classics; Kathleen Parthe, modern languages and cultures; John Lambropoulos, mechanical engineering; Ian Walmsley, optics; Kevin Parker, electrical engineering; Larry Hudson, history; Ed Deci, clinical and social psychology; Randall Calvert, political science; Robert Joynt, neurology; and Paul Burgett, vice president and dean of students.
"It is an honor to be selected as dean for an institution as distinguished as Rochester," LeBlanc said. "I look forward to working with the College faculty to nurture and sustain our continued excellence in teaching and research.
"The College has a bright future, built on the strengths of its faculty, and I'm pleased to have the opportunity to help shape that future."
LeBlanc joined the University in 1983 and was chair of the Department of Computer Science from 1990 to 1996. He holds a B.S. in computer science from SUNY Plattsburgh and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.