Professor Chris Pearson Named Interim Associate Dean of CAS

Per an announcement made by Susan Gano Phillips, Interim Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences: 

I am delighted to announce that Chris Pearson will serve as an Interim Associate Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences effective August 10, 2015, pending Board of Regents approval.  Chris is an experimental physicist who received his B.A. degree from Hamline University in 1989 and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1995.  He was appointed to a post-doctoral research position at the University of California-Davis prior to joining the faculty at the University of Michigan-Flint as an Assistant Professor in 1998.  He was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2004 and Professor in 2011.  His research focuses on understanding the physics of semiconductor surfaces and he has published 20 journal articles and has made more than 50 conference presentations.  Additionally, he is interested in physics pedagogical research and helped transform the instruction of introductory physics through the integration of lecture and lab.

Professor Pearson has held various committee and service roles including Chair of the department of Computer Science, Engineering, and Physics, as well as member of the Executive Committee of the College, the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Budget and Strategic Planning, the Faculty Council, and the Chancellor Search Advisory Committee.  Professor Pearson will retain his responsibility as current chairperson of the department of Computer Science, Engineering, and Physics while serving as the Interim Associate Dean of CAS.

Chris will join Associate Dean Roy Barnes in providing leadership within the College. I am confident that Chris and Roy’s leadership will provide stability, momentum, and innovation for the College during the upcoming year.

Best Regards,
Susan Gano-Phillips
Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences