Department Head and Director Appointments and Reappointments
School of Art
Professor David Wilson has been appointed director of the School of Art. He joined UT in 1985 and has previously served as associate director of the school. He specializes in creating large contemporary artworks, videos, and drawings. His videos have been featured in film festivals in the United States, Australia, Italy and Serbia. His art has been exhibited nationally and internationally and has been featured in various periodicals, including the Los Angeles Times and Newsday.
Wilson replaces former department head, Professor Dottie Habel, who served as department head from August 2008 through July 2016. Professor Habel resigned from the position of department head this year and announced her retirement from the university.
Department of Classics
Professor Aleydis Van de Moortel has been appointed head of the Department of Classics. She joined UT in 2002 and has previously served as associate head. Specializing in classical archaeology, her research interests include the rise and fall of complex societies in Aegean prehistory, Minoan pottery, the history of seafaring, and cultural interconnections in the Bronze Age Eastern Mediterranean. She co-directs the Mitrou Archaeological Project in Central Greece.She replaces Christopher Craig who resigned from the position of department head this year to return to the faculty. Professor Craig served as department head from August 2011 through July 2016.
Department of Microbiology
Professor Heidi Goodrich-Blair has been appointed head of the Department of Microbiology. Goodrich-Blair has joined UT from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on beneficial and harmful bacterial interactions with nematodes and insects. The research has implications in the fields of biocontrol and microbial ecology. She most recently was co-chair of the UW-Madison cross-college biology major, and editor of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
She replaces Jeffrey Becker who resigned from the position of department head this year and announced his retirement from the university. Professor Becker served as department head from August 2003 through July 2016.
Department of Chemistry
Professor Charles Feigerle has been re-appointed head of the Department of Chemistry for a second five-year term.
Department of Religious Studies
Professor Rosalind Hackett has been re-appointed head of the Department of Religious Studies for a second five-year term, although she has indicated her intent to serve only for two more years.
Department of Theatre
Professor Cal MacLean has been re-appointed head of the Department of Theatre for a third five-year term.