Lynch reappointed as Heller School dean

March 4, 2013

Dear Brandeis Community:

We are delighted to inform you that Lisa M. Lynch, PhD, has agreed to serve another five-year term as Dean and Maurice B. Hexter Professor of Economic and Social Policy at The Heller School for Social Policy and Management.

The reappointment process involves input from the dean, the Faculty Senate, and feedback from the school’s faculty, researchers, and senior staff. The university Provost also solicits the input of the Heller School’s Board of Overseers and seeks independent input from external reviewers.

Dean Lynch earned glowing recommendations from all of these constituencies. Her achievements as Heller School dean have helped strengthen Brandeis as a whole and have raised the profile of the school in the academic, policy and public arena.

During her tenure, she has fostered greater interaction between faculty, research staff and students, crossing research centers and degree programs. She has collaborated to expand both graduate student support and joint degree programs. Student-led working groups organized around key social policy issues now include students across all degree programs.

She also led the creation of the School’s new strategic plan, which includes a diversity enhancement initiative to develop programs, policies, and procedures that will permanently embed equity, inclusion, and diversity in the fabric of Heller's academic and work environment.

Heller has seen a significant increase in graduate enrollment and Dean Lynch has led the effort during this growth period to ensure a quality student experience from recruitment and enrollment through graduation and alumni engagement.

Her efforts to raise the school’s public profile led to the re-establishment of Heller School’s ranking as one of the top ten schools of social policy in the nation by US News and World Report.

Dean Lynch has also been a valuable member of the Brandeis community, integrating the Heller School into the university’s educational programs, numerous dual and joint degree programs with other schools and departments, and encouraging the school’s integration into the Brandeis strategic planning process.

Please join us in thanking Dr. Lynch for her tremendous service to the Heller School and to Brandeis University and congratulating her on her reappointment as dean.

Sincerely,

Fred Lawrence, President
Steve Goldstein '78, Provost and Professor of Biochemistry