New Dean of HASS named; to begin Aug. 15

Elizabeth S. Grobsmith, a 30-year veteran of higher education, has been named dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Utah State University in Logan, pending approval of Utah State’s Board of Trustees. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President and Provost Stan Albrecht. Grobsmith, dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) since 1996, assumes her duties Aug. 15.

“We are immensely pleased to attract someone with Dr. Grobsmith’s credentials and background to Utah State,” Albrecht said. “She is not only an outstanding administrator, but has a firm commitment to, and experience in, the classroom. She has spent 30 years working her way through the ranks and truly understands the complexities of higher education. She will be a wonderful addition to Utah State University.”

The College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences is the largest college at Utah State. It includes 12 departments and a variety of programs, and a faculty numbering more than 200. Grobsmith replaces Albrecht who served as college dean until he assumed his position as executive vice president and provost in January 2001.

Grobsmith is also a tenured professor in the department of anthropology at UCCS. Her administrative career began in 1989 when she was named assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. There, she also served as assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs and director of summer sessions from 1994 96.

“I am truly excited about the opportunities at Utah State the college and the university seem to be vital and vigorous, with a new focus on planning for the future,” Grobsmith said. “The college faculty appear to be deeply engaged, and I look forward to working with them and the department heads in charting the directions of the college.”

Grobsmith lists a number of accomplishments during her tenure at UCCS, including the retirement of a sizeable deficit and the increase of private gifts to the college by 600 percent during the past four years. She also created a position for a college external relations director, established a college newsletter and developed other marketing materials.

“I am deeply impressed with the leadership at Utah State, and am greatly looking forward to working with the provost and president in building and refining the directions the university will take,” Grobsmith said. “Planning new ventures the School of the Arts, for instance is extraordinarily exciting and will build on the great arts activities the college, the campus and the community already have in place.”

Grobsmith received a bachelor’s degree in music from The Ohio University and a master’s degree and doctorate, both in anthropology, from the University of Arizona.

As the former dean, Albrecht knows the importance of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. “It plays a central role in liberal arts education at the university,” he said.

“We welcome Dean Grobsmith and look forward to the college’s success under her leadership.”