Van Zandt Selected as Dean of Humanities

Dr. Cassandra Van Zandt has been appointed as Dean of the Humanities and Social Sciences Division of the School of Arts and Sciences, effective August 16, 2009.

Van Zandt fills a spot left vacant when Todd Pickett left the position last summer to become Biola's first Associate Dean of Spiritual Development.

Van Zandt has been a member of the faculty in the Department of English at Biola since 2006. Before that, she was faculty in the English Department at Vanguard University for several years. She obtained her MA and PhD in English from UC Riverside with an emphasis in American Literature. She has participated on the Faculty Town Hall Steering Committee and the Diversity Leadership Committee.

Van Zandt was one of two internal finalists for the position, according to The Chimes. A national search started last summer produced about ten applicants, all of which were eventually either eliminated or withdrew. At that point, internal candidates were considered. Interim Provost Pat Pike acknowledged to The Chimes at the time that while the internal candidates did not have the administrative experience a university typically expects in a dean, their noteworthy academic, spiritual and leadership qualities overshadowed that deficiency.

Van Zandt will supervise the English, history/government/social sciences, modern languages, philosophy, and sociology departements and the Torrey Honors Institute, comprising about 600 major students along with much of the University's undergraduate general education core.

During the 2009-10 school year, while Pat Pike is serving as interim Provost, Van Zandt will also work alongside Dr. Walt Stangl and Dr. Doug Tarpley in overseeing undergraduate education. Pike's regular job is Vice-Provost for Undergraduate Education.