Dear Members of the Santa Clara University Community,

I am happy to announce the appointment of Daniel Press as the next dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Press currently serves as associate dean and professor of environmental studies at University of California, Santa Cruz, and will begin his appointment at SCU on July 1, 2020. 

An environmental policy expert with executive leadership and fundraising experience in ecological sustainability, Dr. Press will serve the College and the University well. He shares the aspirations and values of our Jesuit mission, which complement his impressive academic accomplishments. For more about Dr. Press, please see the press release here. 

I wish to thank the members of the search committee who managed the search process that culminated in a successful search in unprecedented circumstances: Ed Ryan, committee chair, Caryn Beck-Dudley, Renee Billingslea, Julie Chang, Greg Corning, Butch Coyne, Linda Garber, Michelle Marvier, Christelle Sabatier, Paul Soukup, S.J., and Susan Valeriote. I am grateful for their flexibility and creativity in seeing the search to its conclusion. 

Finally, I offer my very special thanks to Terri Peretti for serving as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for the past year. With great generosity, she led the College on a steady course in a time of transition. We are all indebted to Terri for her dedication to our colleagues, students and the good of the University. 

Please join me in welcoming Daniel to the Santa Clara community and thanking Terri for a job well done as interim dean.

Sincerely,

Kevin F. O'Brien, S.J.
President