Strategic Communications and Marketing News Bureau

New department heads announced

New department heads announced

Several UI departments will have new leaders come the start of the new academic year Aug. 16.

  • Kirk Freudenberg will become chair of the department of the classics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He also will be appointed to the rank of professor in the classics department. He comes to Illinois from Ohio State University, where he was a professor of Greek and Latin and associate dean of curriculum and instruction. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University, a master’s degree from Washington University, and a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin.
  • Marianne E. Kalinke will become head of the department of Germanic languages and literatures in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, after serving as acting head since May 21. She will continue to hold the rank of professor of Germanic languages and literature and professor of comparative and world literature, and was named in May a professor in the Center for Advanced Studies. She joined the Illinois faculty in 1985. She earned a bachelor’s degree at the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs, a master’s at the Catholic University of America and a doctorate at Indiana University.
  • Deborah E. Leckband, will become head of the department of chemical and biomolecular engineering in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She will continue to hold the rank of professor in the department of chemical engineering. She is also a professor in the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, and in the Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory. She joined the Illinois faculty in 1995. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Humboldt State University, and her master’s in chemistry, and doctorate in biophysical chemistry, both from Cornell University.
  • Sarah C. Mangelsdorf will become head of the department of psychology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She will continue to hold the rank of professor of psychology. A former associate provost at Illinois, she earned a bachelor’s degree at Oberlin College and a doctorate at the University of Minnesota.
  • Harriett Lisa Muray will become head of the department of Slavic languages and literature in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She will continue to hold the rank of professor of Slavic languages and literature. A former professor and director of comparative literature at the University of California at Davis, Muray joined the Illinois faculty in 2002. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Chicago and a doctorate from Stanford University.
  • Ken N. Paige, will become head of the department of animal biology in the School of Integrative Biology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He has been serving as interim head since Jan. 21. He will continue to hold the rank of professor of animal biology. Since 2002, he also has been a professor of natural resources and environmental sciences. Paige joined the Illinois faculty in 1988. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Arkansas State University and a doctorate from Northern Arizona University.

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