Candidate for dean withdraws

One candidate for Dean of Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences accepted a different position and withdrew from consideration, Executive Vice Provost Michael Quick said in an email on Wednesday.

Lauren Benton, New York University dean of the humanities, told Quick she accepted a position elsewhere. Benton, a professor of history, is the recipient of the World History Association Book Prize in 2003.

Three other candidates are still being considered for the position, which oversees the largest school within the university. They each already have or will come to campus for two days, during which forums allow students, faculty and staff to meet the candidates. The candidates also meet with senior administrators during the visits.

Steve Kay, dean of the division of biological sciences at UC San Diego, visited campus on Feb. 29 to meet with students and faculty in order to discuss his vision for the school.

Peter Bearman, professor of social sciences at Columbia University, is scheduled to visit March 21 and 22, and Harry Atwater, a professor of applied physics and material science at the California Institute of Technology, is scheduled to visit March 26 and 27.

Dornsife comprises 33 academic departments and 31 research institutions and centers. The dean also oversees faculty recruitment, fundraising and the expansion of research opportunities for students and faculty.

The original four candidates were announced Feb. 21 in a memo from Provost Elizabeth Garrett.

“Since the beginning of this academic year, the search advisory committee has conducted an exhaustive and thorough search,” Garrett said in the memo. “The quality of the overall pool of candidates is excellent.”