In the Office of the Dean, the deans oversee specific academic units and college-wide initiatives while administrators and staff direct and manage the college's administrative offices in multiple locations across the Columbia campus.
Dean
Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Dean Samuels provides academic and administrative leadership to the largest college
of the University of South Carolina. He provides oversight for strategic planning, curriculum
development,instruction, budget, and policies and procedures.
Associate Deans
Associate Dean for Instruction, Community Engagement, and Research
Administrative/College-Wide Areas
Dr. Benitez-Nelson fosters undergraduate research opportunities by enhancing the value
of an Arts and Sciences degree. Dr. Benitez-Nelson manages college-level curriculum
development and review including academic program and course proposals and course
enrollment management. Dr. Benitez-Nelson also develops strategies to encourage community
engagement on and off campus and works with University Housing, the Honors College,
and the College’s Academic Advising Team to promote innovation on campus.
- CAS Instruction and Curriculum Development
- Program- and course-level curricular development and approval
- CAS Academic Program Liaison to the Provost Office
- CAS Representative on the Carolina Core Committee
- Community Engagement
Academic Unit Oversight and Management
Dr. Benitez-Nelson is the academic liaison between the dean’s office and the academic
units below. Dr. Benitez-Nelson reviews all third-year, tenure, promotion, and post-tenure
review files for these units, as well as hiring requests, administrative annual reviews,
sabbatical requests, academic program reviews, and nominations for named professorships
and faculty and student awards in the sciences.
Departments and Schools
- Biological Sciences
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Psychology
- Statistics
Centers and Institutes
- Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine & Coastal Sciences
Associate Dean for Arts, Humanities and Academic Initiatives
Administrative/College-Wide Areas
Dr. Davis coordinates several targeted fellowship programs within the college and
is also tasked with generating and implementing new initiatives designed to more effectively
communicate the value of degrees in arts and sciences to a variety of audiences.
- Fellowship Programs
- Bilinski Dissertation Fellowship Program
- Bridge Humanities Fellowship Program
- McCausland Faculty Fellowship Program
- Academic Initiatives, including:
- Theme Semester
- New Pre-professional minors
- Communications
Academic Unit Oversight and Management
Dr. Davis is the academic liaison between the dean’s office and the units below. Dr.
Davis reviews all third-year, tenure, promotion, and post-tenure review files for
these units, as well as hiring requests, administrative annual reviews, sabbatical
requests, academic program reviews, and nominations for named professorships and faculty
and student awards in the arts and humanities.
Departments and Schools
- History
- Languages, Literatures & Cultures
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Religious Studies
- Theatre & Dance
- Visual Art & Design, School of
Programs, Centers, and Institutes
- African American Studies
- Ann Johnson Institute for Science, Technology and Society
- SC Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology
Interim Associate Dean for Enrollment Management, Advising, and Retention
Administrative/College-Wide Areas
Dr. Friend oversees the college's Student Excellence Collaborative at Flinn Hall and
is responsible for representing the college in all matters related to undergraduate
student services. Dr. Friend works closely with the Division of Student Affairs and
Academic Support, the University Advising Center and serves on a wide-range of committees. Dr.
Friend also serves as the college liaison for degree program assessment and experiential
learning initiatives.
- Student Excellence Collaborative at Flinn Hall
- Academic services for undergraduate students including academic advising for all majors,
major changes, senior checks, and graduation approvals
- Beyond the Classroom services including study abroad program advice and approvals,
career goals, internship opportunities, undergraduate research, and scholarships
- Academic Year Schedule of Classes
- College Orientation and New Student Recruitment
- Experiential Learning & Beyond the Classroom
- Academic Unit program assessment planning and reporting
- Liaison to OIRAA on assessment issues
- CAS representative on Assessment Advisory Committee
Academic Unit Oversight and Management
Dr. Friend is the Director of the Cardiovascular Technology program.
Interdisciplinary Program
- Cardiovascular Technology
Interim Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Social Sciences
Administrative/College-Wide Areas
Dr. Shaw oversees diversity and inclusion for the college by providing input into
decision making, strategic planning and hiring initiatives to enhance diversity, inclusion
and equity. Dr. Shaw also serves as a member of the university’s Council of Academic
Diversity Officers (CADO).
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- CAS Diversity Committee
Academic Unit Oversight and Management
Dr. Shaw is the academic liaison between the dean’s office and the units below. Dr.
Shaw reviews all third-year, tenure, promotion, and post-tenure review files for these
units, as well as hiring requests, administrative annual reviews, sabbatical requests,
academic program reviews, and nominations for named professorships and faculty and
student awards in the social sciences.
Departments
- Anthropology
- Criminology & Criminal Justice
- English
- Sociology
Interim Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies
Administrative/College-Wide Areas
Dr. Twiss oversees all graduate directors within the college, college grants administration,
college outside professional activities, and annual CAS SmartState reports. Dr. Twiss
serves as the liaison for the USC Office of Research, the College Institutional Review
Board, and CAS departments in regard to budget-related matters, the CAS undergraduate
computing and research operation, the college machine shop and the college electron
microscopy facility.
- Graduate Education (Liaison with all Graduate Directors and to The Graduate School)
- External Grants Administration
- Liaison to Office of Research and USCIRB
- Undergraduate Research
- College Research Facilities
- Center for Elemental Mass Spectrometry
- Electron Microscopy Center
- Magnetic Measurement Facility
- Mass Spectrometry Facility
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility
- Powder X-Ray Diffraction Facility
- Single Crystal X-Ray Diffraction Facility
Academic Unit Oversight and Management
Dr. Twiss is the academic liaison between the dean’s office and the units below. Dr.
Twiss reviews all third-year, tenure, promotion, and post-tenure review files for
these units, as well as hiring requests, administrative annual reviews, sabbatical
requests, academic program reviews, and nominations for named professorships and faculty
and student awards in the sciences.
Departments and Schools
- Earth, Ocean & Environment, School of
- Geography
- Physics & Astronomy
Centers and Institutes
- Geographic Education
- GIS and Remote Sensing
- Hazards and Vulnerability Research Institute
- Institute for Mind and Brain
- McCausland Center for Brain Imaging
Interim Associate Dean for College Initiatives and Interdisciplinary Programs
Administrative/College-Wide Areas
Dr. Whitted coordinates key initiatives within the college to advance the Dean’s priorities
and to align the College of Arts and Sciences with the university’s strategic plan.
Academic Unit Oversight and Management
Dr. Whitted is the academic liaison between the dean’s office and the units below.
Dr. Whitted reviews all third-year, tenure, promotion, and post-tenure review files for the academic
units, as well as hiring requests, administrative annual reviews, sabbatical requests,
academic program reviews and nominations for named professorships and faculty and
student awards in interdisciplinary programs.
Interdisciplinary Programs
- Film and Media Studies
- Global Studies
- Jewish Studies
- Linguistics
- Women's and Gender Studies
Programs, Centers and Institutes
- Center for Civil Rights History and Research
- Center for Digital Humanities
- Humanities Collaborative
- Institute for African American Research
- Institute for Southern Studies
- McKissick Museum
- ROTC, Air Force
- ROTC, Army
- ROTC, Navy
- Walker Institute of International and Area Studies
Assistant Deans
Assistant Dean for Academic Policy, Planning, and Administration
Administrative/College-Wide Areas
Ms. Ahyi is responsible for managing college-level academic administrative policies
and procedures, dean's office administration and planning, and internal CAS communications.
- CAS academic and administrative policies and procedures
- Chair/Director annual evaluations (Comprehensive, Annual and Standard)
- Chair/Director search process
- External academic program review process and schedule
- Blueprint Planning
- Administrative Planning Calendar
- OIRAA Program Review data system contact
- Bilinski Fellowships
- McCausland Foundation Programs
- Bridge Humanities Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowships
Directors of Administrative Areas (Senior Staff)
Director of Grants Operations
- External proposal preparation, especially budget development
- Proposal submission support for both internal (USC’s) and external (sponsors’) systems
- Policy and procedure compliance support for researchers (rebudgeting, extensions,
reporting requirements)
- Budget reports for ongoing grants management
- Grant closeouts with Grants and Fund Management Office
- View Ms. Bridgman's profile.
WEBSITE: Grants Operations
Senior Director of Development
- Oversee and lead the development efforts for the college
- Cultivating alumni and donors in the many philanthropic opportunities available
- Working closely with donors and faculty in securing major gifts, planned gifts, private
grants and annual gifts to support the most important needs of the college
- View Ms. Eigenbrot's profile.
WEBSITE: Advancement
DIrector of Communications
- External-facing public relations and marketing (news, press releases, interview requests,
social media, feature stories)
- College external-facing websites including unit sub-sites and sub-pages (departments,
programs, centers, and institutes)
- CAS directory changes and profile page updates
- College Newsletters (alumni, students, and faculty/staff)
- View Mr. Gentry's profile.
WEBSITE: Advancement
Director of Information Resources
- Oversight of CAS internal website
- Administrative technology support in the Office of the Dean
- Electronic form development and implementation
- Online surveys and virtual ballots
- Dean’s Office web-based tool account management and internal training (MailChimp,
Zoom, SurveyMonkey, Basecamp)
- OIRAA Program Review data system contact
- College-wide faculty and staff listservs and mailing lists
- View Ms. James' profile.
Director of Budget Operations
- Fiscal and budget affairs for unrestricted funds of all college units
- Unit compliance with budget-related policies and procedures
- Unit- and college-level budget development
- View Ms. Klie's profile.
Director of Space and Facilities Operations
- Maintenance of buildings and associated service requests
- Monitoring, tracking and representing CAS units during construction and renovations
projects
- College space utilization
- Security procedures including all key and Carolina Card access control
- Matters related to the safety of employees, students and visitors
- Emergency preparedness and notifications
- Communication of applicable facilities information to unit Building Coordinators and
within the Dean’s Office
- View Mr. Moring's profile.
WEBSITE: CAS Space and Facilities Operations
Director of Information Technology Services
- Technical support services for instructional and administrative needs in CAS
- Coordination with dean, chairs, and directors to assess IT needs
- Advisor for hardware and software planning and acquisition
- Security compliance liaison
- College IT policies and procedures
- IT liaison for university-level advisory and oversight committees
- View Mr. Mullaney's profile.
WEBSITE: CAS Information Technology Services
Director of Human Resources
- Human Resources actions and processes for all college staff, faculty and students
- Recruitment, hiring and appointment procedures
- Faculty review and promotion processes including tenure review
- Leaves of absence, emeritus appointments, administrative appointments
- Faculty awards, endowed chairs and professorships
- College-level compliance with federal, state and university labor laws
- Employee Relations support for CAS faculty and staff
- View Ms. Robinson's profile.
WEBSITE: CAS Human Resources
Dean's Office Support
Administrative Coordinator
- Dean's Office 3rd Floor Reception
- Dean's Office Contact Lists
- Petigru conference room reservations
- Administrative support for Assistant Deans
Office Manager and Assistant to the Dean
- Assistant to the Dean (appointments, travel, correspondence)
- Office Manager for the Dean's Office College-wide administrative communications (incl.
Dean's Office CASDEAN and CASPROG email accounts)
- CAS Dean's Initiatives Application and Award Processes
- Collaboration with advancement and alumni relations
- Meeting Coordination:
- CAS Chair/Director meetings
- CAS Faculty meetings
- Dean’s Advisory Committee
- Academic Planning and Curriculum Group
Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Dean Samuels provides academic and administrative leadership to the largest college of the University of South Carolina. He provides oversight for strategic planning, curriculum development,instruction, budget, and policies and procedures.
Associate Deans
Associate Dean for Instruction, Community Engagement, and Research
Administrative/College-Wide Areas
Dr. Benitez-Nelson fosters undergraduate research opportunities by enhancing the value of an Arts and Sciences degree. Dr. Benitez-Nelson manages college-level curriculum development and review including academic program and course proposals and course enrollment management. Dr. Benitez-Nelson also develops strategies to encourage community engagement on and off campus and works with University Housing, the Honors College, and the College’s Academic Advising Team to promote innovation on campus.
- CAS Instruction and Curriculum Development
- Program- and course-level curricular development and approval
- CAS Academic Program Liaison to the Provost Office
- CAS Representative on the Carolina Core Committee
- Community Engagement
Academic Unit Oversight and Management
Dr. Benitez-Nelson is the academic liaison between the dean’s office and the academic units below. Dr. Benitez-Nelson reviews all third-year, tenure, promotion, and post-tenure review files for these units, as well as hiring requests, administrative annual reviews, sabbatical requests, academic program reviews, and nominations for named professorships and faculty and student awards in the sciences.
Departments and Schools
- Biological Sciences
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Psychology
- Statistics
Centers and Institutes
- Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine & Coastal Sciences
Associate Dean for Arts, Humanities and Academic Initiatives
Administrative/College-Wide Areas
Dr. Davis coordinates several targeted fellowship programs within the college and is also tasked with generating and implementing new initiatives designed to more effectively communicate the value of degrees in arts and sciences to a variety of audiences.
- Fellowship Programs
- Bilinski Dissertation Fellowship Program
- Bridge Humanities Fellowship Program
- McCausland Faculty Fellowship Program
- Academic Initiatives, including:
- Theme Semester
- New Pre-professional minors
- Communications
Academic Unit Oversight and Management
Dr. Davis is the academic liaison between the dean’s office and the units below. Dr. Davis reviews all third-year, tenure, promotion, and post-tenure review files for these units, as well as hiring requests, administrative annual reviews, sabbatical requests, academic program reviews, and nominations for named professorships and faculty and student awards in the arts and humanities.
Departments and Schools
- History
- Languages, Literatures & Cultures
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Religious Studies
- Theatre & Dance
- Visual Art & Design, School of
Programs, Centers, and Institutes
- African American Studies
- Ann Johnson Institute for Science, Technology and Society
- SC Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology
Interim Associate Dean for Enrollment Management, Advising, and Retention
Administrative/College-Wide Areas
Dr. Friend oversees the college's Student Excellence Collaborative at Flinn Hall and is responsible for representing the college in all matters related to undergraduate student services. Dr. Friend works closely with the Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support, the University Advising Center and serves on a wide-range of committees. Dr. Friend also serves as the college liaison for degree program assessment and experiential learning initiatives.
- Student Excellence Collaborative at Flinn Hall
- Academic services for undergraduate students including academic advising for all majors, major changes, senior checks, and graduation approvals
- Beyond the Classroom services including study abroad program advice and approvals, career goals, internship opportunities, undergraduate research, and scholarships
- Academic Year Schedule of Classes
- College Orientation and New Student Recruitment
- Experiential Learning & Beyond the Classroom
- Academic Unit program assessment planning and reporting
- Liaison to OIRAA on assessment issues
- CAS representative on Assessment Advisory Committee
Academic Unit Oversight and Management
Dr. Friend is the Director of the Cardiovascular Technology program.
Interdisciplinary Program
- Cardiovascular Technology
Interim Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Social Sciences
Administrative/College-Wide Areas
Dr. Shaw oversees diversity and inclusion for the college by providing input into decision making, strategic planning and hiring initiatives to enhance diversity, inclusion and equity. Dr. Shaw also serves as a member of the university’s Council of Academic Diversity Officers (CADO).
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- CAS Diversity Committee
Academic Unit Oversight and Management
Dr. Shaw is the academic liaison between the dean’s office and the units below. Dr. Shaw reviews all third-year, tenure, promotion, and post-tenure review files for these units, as well as hiring requests, administrative annual reviews, sabbatical requests, academic program reviews, and nominations for named professorships and faculty and student awards in the social sciences.
Departments
- Anthropology
- Criminology & Criminal Justice
- English
- Sociology
Interim Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies
Administrative/College-Wide Areas
Dr. Twiss oversees all graduate directors within the college, college grants administration, college outside professional activities, and annual CAS SmartState reports. Dr. Twiss serves as the liaison for the USC Office of Research, the College Institutional Review Board, and CAS departments in regard to budget-related matters, the CAS undergraduate computing and research operation, the college machine shop and the college electron microscopy facility.
- Graduate Education (Liaison with all Graduate Directors and to The Graduate School)
- External Grants Administration
- Liaison to Office of Research and USCIRB
- Undergraduate Research
- College Research Facilities
- Center for Elemental Mass Spectrometry
- Electron Microscopy Center
- Magnetic Measurement Facility
- Mass Spectrometry Facility
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility
- Powder X-Ray Diffraction Facility
- Single Crystal X-Ray Diffraction Facility
Academic Unit Oversight and Management
Dr. Twiss is the academic liaison between the dean’s office and the units below. Dr. Twiss reviews all third-year, tenure, promotion, and post-tenure review files for these units, as well as hiring requests, administrative annual reviews, sabbatical requests, academic program reviews, and nominations for named professorships and faculty and student awards in the sciences.
Departments and Schools
- Earth, Ocean & Environment, School of
- Geography
- Physics & Astronomy
Centers and Institutes
- Geographic Education
- GIS and Remote Sensing
- Hazards and Vulnerability Research Institute
- Institute for Mind and Brain
- McCausland Center for Brain Imaging
Interim Associate Dean for College Initiatives and Interdisciplinary Programs
Administrative/College-Wide Areas
Dr. Whitted coordinates key initiatives within the college to advance the Dean’s priorities and to align the College of Arts and Sciences with the university’s strategic plan.
Academic Unit Oversight and Management
Dr. Whitted is the academic liaison between the dean’s office and the units below. Dr. Whitted reviews all third-year, tenure, promotion, and post-tenure review files for the academic units, as well as hiring requests, administrative annual reviews, sabbatical requests, academic program reviews and nominations for named professorships and faculty and student awards in interdisciplinary programs.
Interdisciplinary Programs
- Film and Media Studies
- Global Studies
- Jewish Studies
- Linguistics
- Women's and Gender Studies
Programs, Centers and Institutes
- Center for Civil Rights History and Research
- Center for Digital Humanities
- Humanities Collaborative
- Institute for African American Research
- Institute for Southern Studies
- McKissick Museum
- ROTC, Air Force
- ROTC, Army
- ROTC, Navy
- Walker Institute of International and Area Studies
Assistant Dean for Academic Policy, Planning, and Administration
Administrative/College-Wide Areas
Ms. Ahyi is responsible for managing college-level academic administrative policies and procedures, dean's office administration and planning, and internal CAS communications.
- CAS academic and administrative policies and procedures
- Chair/Director annual evaluations (Comprehensive, Annual and Standard)
- Chair/Director search process
- External academic program review process and schedule
- Blueprint Planning
- Administrative Planning Calendar
- OIRAA Program Review data system contact
- Bilinski Fellowships
- McCausland Foundation Programs
- Bridge Humanities Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowships
Directors of Administrative Areas (Senior Staff)
Director of Grants Operations
- External proposal preparation, especially budget development
- Proposal submission support for both internal (USC’s) and external (sponsors’) systems
- Policy and procedure compliance support for researchers (rebudgeting, extensions, reporting requirements)
- Budget reports for ongoing grants management
- Grant closeouts with Grants and Fund Management Office
- View Ms. Bridgman's profile.
WEBSITE: Grants Operations
Senior Director of Development
- Oversee and lead the development efforts for the college
- Cultivating alumni and donors in the many philanthropic opportunities available
- Working closely with donors and faculty in securing major gifts, planned gifts, private grants and annual gifts to support the most important needs of the college
- View Ms. Eigenbrot's profile.
WEBSITE: Advancement
DIrector of Communications
- External-facing public relations and marketing (news, press releases, interview requests, social media, feature stories)
- College external-facing websites including unit sub-sites and sub-pages (departments, programs, centers, and institutes)
- CAS directory changes and profile page updates
- College Newsletters (alumni, students, and faculty/staff)
- View Mr. Gentry's profile.
WEBSITE: Advancement
Director of Information Resources
- Oversight of CAS internal website
- Administrative technology support in the Office of the Dean
- Electronic form development and implementation
- Online surveys and virtual ballots
- Dean’s Office web-based tool account management and internal training (MailChimp, Zoom, SurveyMonkey, Basecamp)
- OIRAA Program Review data system contact
- College-wide faculty and staff listservs and mailing lists
- View Ms. James' profile.
Director of Budget Operations
- Fiscal and budget affairs for unrestricted funds of all college units
- Unit compliance with budget-related policies and procedures
- Unit- and college-level budget development
- View Ms. Klie's profile.
Director of Space and Facilities Operations
- Maintenance of buildings and associated service requests
- Monitoring, tracking and representing CAS units during construction and renovations projects
- College space utilization
- Security procedures including all key and Carolina Card access control
- Matters related to the safety of employees, students and visitors
- Emergency preparedness and notifications
- Communication of applicable facilities information to unit Building Coordinators and within the Dean’s Office
- View Mr. Moring's profile.
WEBSITE: CAS Space and Facilities Operations
Director of Information Technology Services
- Technical support services for instructional and administrative needs in CAS
- Coordination with dean, chairs, and directors to assess IT needs
- Advisor for hardware and software planning and acquisition
- Security compliance liaison
- College IT policies and procedures
- IT liaison for university-level advisory and oversight committees
- View Mr. Mullaney's profile.
WEBSITE: CAS Information Technology Services
Director of Human Resources
- Human Resources actions and processes for all college staff, faculty and students
- Recruitment, hiring and appointment procedures
- Faculty review and promotion processes including tenure review
- Leaves of absence, emeritus appointments, administrative appointments
- Faculty awards, endowed chairs and professorships
- College-level compliance with federal, state and university labor laws
- Employee Relations support for CAS faculty and staff
- View Ms. Robinson's profile.
WEBSITE: CAS Human Resources
Dean's Office Support
Administrative Coordinator
- Dean's Office 3rd Floor Reception
- Dean's Office Contact Lists
- Petigru conference room reservations
- Administrative support for Assistant Deans
Office Manager and Assistant to the Dean
- Assistant to the Dean (appointments, travel, correspondence)
- Office Manager for the Dean's Office College-wide administrative communications (incl. Dean's Office CASDEAN and CASPROG email accounts)
- CAS Dean's Initiatives Application and Award Processes
- Collaboration with advancement and alumni relations
- Meeting Coordination:
- CAS Chair/Director meetings
- CAS Faculty meetings
- Dean’s Advisory Committee
- Academic Planning and Curriculum Group