Ron Spencer Appointed as Director of Special Programs
 
HARTFORD, Conn., December 7, 2007 – Stefanie Chambers, an associate professor in the political science department, and Tom Mitzel, an associate professor in the chemistry department, have been named associate academic deans, replacing J. Ronald Spencer, who is retiring at the end of the academic year. Spencer has accepted a one-year assignment as director of special programs.

The appointment of Chambers and Mitzel was announced by Rena Fraden, dean of the faculty and vice president for academic affairs.

Chambers, who is soon  going on sabbatical, will begin her new job in July 2009 and her term will run through June 2012. She joined Trinity’s faculty in 2000 after receiving her B.A. from Marquette University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from The Ohio State University. At Trinity, she teachers courses in American politics with an emphasis on urban politics, public policy, racial and ethnic politics, and women and politics.

Chambers has published Mayors and Schools: Minority Voices and Democratic Tensions in Urban Education and is collaborating on a book with William Nelson of Ohio State entitled, Coping with Disaster: Mayoral Leadership in New Orleans. Chambers has served on many committees, in both elected and appointed positions.

Mitzel, who has been a Trinity faculty member since 1996, will serve as associate academic dean beginning in July 2008. He will fill in for Chambers for one year and then for the next two years he will replace David A. Robbins.

Mitzel received his B.A. from Northern State University and his Ph.D. in physical organic chemistry from Boston College. He wrote Interactive Organic Chemistry, a fully integrated animated textbook that he used for the first time in his organic chemistry courses this year. He is currently serving as chair of the Appointments and Promotions Advisory Committee and has chaired the Financial Affairs and College Affairs committees. He has been a member of several other committees, among them the Curriculum Committee.

Fraden praised Spencer for his valuable contributions to Trinity over the years and that some of his duties will be reconfigured.

Also, beginning January 1, Margaret Lindsey will become dean of Trinity’s First Year Program. Lindsey was hired on a temporary basis in 2002 as coordinator of the program and was made director of the program and later acting dean in July 2006. For the past five years, Lindsey has also taught a first year seminar.