Take Charge

For the first time in University history, women occupy all six academic leadership roles. In April, the University named Elaine Scott dean of the School of Engineering. She comes from University of Washington Bothell, where she founded the School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics—a fitting résumé for SCU as we grow our own campus.

She joins Santa Clara Law Professor and Interim Dean Anna Han, who is filling the leadership role at the law school while Dean Lisa Kloppenberg acts as interim provost (former Provost Dennis Jacobs is now provost at Fordham University). Political Science Professor Terri Peretti is the interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences as former Dean Debbie Tahmassebi becomes provost at Westminster College. Associate Dean of the Jesuit School of Theology Alison Benders becomes interim dean at JST while leadership seeks to replace the former dean, new SCU President Kevin O’Brien, S.J. Scott, Han, Kloppenberg, Peretti, and Benders join Leavey School of Business Dean Caryn Beck-Dudley and School of Education and Counseling Psychology Dean Sabrina Zirkel in Santa Clara’s academic leadership