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.

View Dean Samuels' profile.

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
• Undergraduate Research
• 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
• Earth, Ocean & Environment, School of
• Mathematics
• Psychology
• Statistics

Centers and Institutes

• Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine & Coastal Sciences
• Earth Sciences and Resources Institute (ESRI)

View Dr. Benitez-Nelson's profile.

Associate Dean for Arts, Humanities and Academic Initiatives

Administrative/College-Wide Areas

Dr. Davis is tasked with generating and implementing college initiatives designed to more effectively communicate the value of degrees in arts and sciences to a variety of audiences.

• Communications
• Academic Initiatives

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 

• English
• History
• Languages, Literatures & Cultures
• Philosophy
• Religious Studies
• Theatre & Dance
• Visual Art & Design, School of

Programs

• ROTC, Air Force
• ROTC, Army
• ROTC, Navy

Centers and Institutes

• Ann Johnson Institute for Science, Technology and Society
• Center for Civil Rights History and Research
• Center for Digital Humanities
• Confucius Institute
• Institute for Southern Studies
• SC Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology
• Walker Institute

View Dr. Davis' profile.

 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. 

• 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

Academic Unit Oversight and Management

Dr. Friend is the Director of the Cardiovascular Technology program.

Interdisciplinary Program

• Cardiovascular Technology

Interim Associate Dean for Diversity, Interdisciplinary Programs 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 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
• Political Science
• 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 
• 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

• Chemistry and Biochemistry
• 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 is the academic liaison between the Dean’s office and interdisciplinary programs within the college, including African American Studies, Film and Media Studies, Jewish Studies, Linguistics, Women’s and Gender Studies, Institute for African American Research, Institute for Southern Studies, Walker Institute of International and Area Studies, Global Studies, Center for Digital Humanities, Center for Civil Rights History and Research, Humanities Collaborative, and McKissick Museum. 

Dr. Whitted also works on key initiatives 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

• African American Studies
• Film and Media Studies
• Global Studies
• Jewish Studies
• Linguistics
• Women's and Gender Studies

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
• 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 policy development and implementation
• Dean's Office internal administration and organization
• College-wide communications with academic administrators
• Internal communications including website
• Development and Implementation of technology strategies for CAS dean's office

View Ms. Ahyi's profile.

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

Director

• CAS Incubator for Innovative Teaching

Administrative/College-wide Areas

• Experiential Learning & Beyond the Classroom
• Academic Unit program assessment planning and reporting
• Liaison to OIRAA on assessment issues
• CAS representative on Assessment Advisory Committee
• View Dr. Friend's profile.

WEBSITE: Incubator for Innovative Teaching

Deputy Chief of Staff

• Liaison to Associate Deans
• CAS HR and Payroll oversight
• Employee Relations staff related issues resolution within CAS units
• Dean's Internal Grants and Initiatives
• Bridge Humanities Program
• McCausland Fellows program
• Bilinski Graduate Fellowship program
• Chair/Director Appointment and Evaluation processes
• View Ms. Hayes' profile.

Director of Information Resources

• Oversight of CAS internal website
• Electronic form development and implementation
• Administrative technology support in the Office of the Dean
• 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

• Global Studies Program
• View Dr. Mueller's profile.

WEBSITE:  Global Studies

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

Director of External Relations (Interim)

• Engaging alumni as volunteers, advocates and supporters.
• Communicating about the college with those who have a stake in its success, including alumni and community members.
• Securing financial support from donors committed to the mission of the college.
• View Ms. Salter's profile

WEBSITE:  CAS Advancement

Administrative Coordinator

• Dean's Office 3rd Floor Reception
• Dean's Office Contact Lists
• Petigru conference room reservations
• Administrative support for Assistant Deans

View Ms. Atkinson's profile.

Office Manager and Assistant to the Dean

• Assistant to the Dean (appointments, travel, correspondence)
• Member of CAS Communications Team
• Coordination of Chair and Director Annual Evaluations and Reappointment Evaluations
• Coordination of CAS Faculty Initiatives Process
• Collaboration with advancement and alumni relations

View Ms. Livingston's profile.

Administrative Coordinator

• Administrative support to the Associate Deans (appointments, travel, correspondence)
• College Initiatives and Programs
• Academic unit contact for academic administration issues
• Third-year, Tenure and Promotion, and Post-Tenure review files
• Administrative support to Deputy Chief of Staff and Office Manager

View Ms. Mercer's profile.