As a new school year gets underway at the University of Texas School of Information, the iSchool leadership team gains one new face and sees another familiar figure changing roles. Dr. James Howison, most recently interim associate dean for research, will be stepping into the role of interim associate dean for academic affairs. The vacancy in his former role will be filled by Dr. Ken Fleischmann, the new interim associate dean for research.
The shake-up in leadership is precipitated by Dr. David Lankes, who has served as interim associate dean for academic affairs for the past year, deciding to step down. “David has provided steady and thoughtful leadership during a time of transition, and I’m deeply grateful for his dedication. In his role as associate dean and chair of the Graduate Studies Committee, he has overseen our academic programs with great care and effectiveness,” says iSchool interim dean Soo Young Rieh.
Rieh similarly commends Howison’s work in his prior role, especially his oversight of the iSchool’s research enterprise, mentoring of faculty in grant writing and support for postdoctoral programs.
Howison, for his part, is excited to shift gears in his new role. “I’ve loved getting to know the role of associate dean for research this past year, especially brainstorming grant ideas and making introductions for faculty across campus,” he says. “I’m enthusiastic to learn more about the academic affairs role, supporting our stellar staff and getting to know our adjunct faculty, who are so crucial to our teaching mission here at the school.”
Howison adds a vote of confidence in his replacement at his prior role. “I’m very happy that Ken has joined as associate dean for research,” he says. “In many places I went across campus, Ken and the work of the Good Systems project were already well known and a great touchstone for building relationships for our faculty research
Rieh echoes this endorsement, describing Fleischmann as “an accomplished scholar with a strong record of securing external funding and cross-campus connections, particularly through his leadership of Good Systems.”
In addition to the leadership team role, Fleischman will also serve as director of the PhD program this year. He says he sees the potential to build synergies between the two roles, given the importance of doctoral students to research at the iSchool.
As associate dean for research, Fleischmann is already laying out a vision for his tenure, building on his past successes. “The iSchool has a vibrant and thriving research program,” he says. “I am excited to leverage what I have learned as the founding chair of Good Systems, Ethical AI at UT Austin and the connections that I have built with the Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Endeavors and across campus to benefit the iSchool. Together, we will continue to increase our research excellence and to further build our reputation campus-wide, nationwide, and worldwide."