Three Black Scholars Named to Dean Positions

Deborah Deas was appointed the Mark and Pam Rubin Dean of the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine. She will also serve as chief executive officer for clinical affairs at the university. Dr. Deans has been serving as interim dean of the College of Medicine and professor of psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Dr. Deas is a graduate of the College of Charleston in South Carolina. She holds a master of public health degree from the University of South Carolina and a medical doctorate from the Medical University of South Carolina.

Onye Ozuzu was named dean of the School of Fine and Performing Arts at Columbia College in Chicago. She has served as interim dean since July 2015. Previously, she chaired the dance department at the college.

Dean Ozuzu holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a master of fine arts degree in dance performance from Florida State University.

Arlie Petters was appointed dean of academic affairs and associate vice president for undergraduate education at Trinity College of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Petters holds faculty appointments as a professor of mathematics and physics and professor of business administration at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business.

Dr. Petters, a native of Belize, joined the Duke faculty in 1998. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degree from Hunter College in New York City and earned a Ph.D. in mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.