Psychology's Mick Watson named next GSAS dean

Watson will succeed Gregory Freeze, who has held the position since 2006

Mick Watson, the George and Frances Levin Professor of Psychology, will become dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, effective July 1. A member of the Brandeis faculty since 1977, Watson currently is chair of the Department of Psychology, a role he will relinquish upon taking over as dean.

Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe said it would be Watson’s responsibility to nurture and grow new programs that Brandeis has started in the last several years, to carry out the initiatives of the Curriculum and Academic Restructuring Steering (CARS) Committee and the Brandeis 2020 committee for the graduate school, and to explore additional innovative ways to maintain and enhance both the stature and fiscal position of the school.

Gregory L. Freeze has been dean of the graduate school since the summer of 2006. In that time, he has started five new master's programs and overseen the review of graduate programs for the CARS and Brandeis 2020 processes. He has improved the finances of the school dramatically, going from a revenue deficit of about $1.6 million a year to a projected surplus next year of about $1 million.

Freeze will be on sabbatical in the coming academic year, then will return to his position in the Department of History, where he is the Victor and Gwendolyn Beinfield Professor of History. He is married to ChaeRan Yoo Freeze, a professor of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and of Women's and Gender Studies.

Gregory L. Freeze

A reception to honor Freeze and thank him for his service to the graduate school will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday May 11, in the Faculty Club lounge. All faculty, staff and students are invited.

"Greg has been an extraordinary dean of GSAS,” Jaffe said. “During his tenure, we have simultaneously improved the finances of the school while raising morale and improving academic standards. His leadership, high standards and diligence have set GSAS on a successful course academically and financially. I will miss him.

"I am thrilled that Mick Watson has agreed to take over as dean,” Jaffe continued. “Mick has shown himself to be a talented and dedicated teacher, scholar and administrator. He already has a long and distinguished record of service to Brandeis, and the graduate school is lucky to have him step in at this crucial time."