Dean Christine M. Ladisch, College of Health and Human Sciences

To:        Executive Vice Presidents, Chancellors, Vice Presidents, Vice Chancellors, Vice Provosts, Deans, Directors and Heads of Schools, Divisions, Departments and Offices

From:    Jay Akridge, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Diversity

Date:     August 18, 2017

I am writing to let you know that Christine M. Ladisch, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) and professor of consumer science, will complete her term and step down from her deanship, effective June 30, 2018.  She plans to return to a faculty position after a sabbatical.

Chris served as the inaugural dean of HHS when the college was launched in 2010, bringing together the departments (by their new names) of Health and Kinesiology; Psychological Sciences; Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences; Human Development and Family Studies; Nutrition Science; Consumer Science; as well as the schools of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Her exceptional leadership earned Chris an appointment as dean of the college in 2013, and the Board approved a two-year extension in Oct. 2015. Under Chris’ guidance, the College of HHS has celebrated a number of key successes including the opening of Lyles-Porter Hall; a $2 million National Institutes of Health grant to bring a clinical MRI to campus for health and life sciences research; and a variety of impactful research and education programs in public health, autism, neuroscience and behavioral sciences.

Preceding her appointment to HHS, Chris served in the Provost’s Office from 2001-2010 as vice provost for academic affairs and associate provost. She served as associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Consumer and Family Sciences from 1993-1999 and as department head of consumer sciences and retailing from 1999-2001.

I’m pleased to report that David Hummels, dean of the Krannert School of Management, has agreed to serve as chair for the search committee to identify a new dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences.

When Chris was appointed as HHS inaugural dean in 2010, she said she wanted “to create a sense of community” for the college.  She has accomplished her goal admirably, and Purdue will remain ever grateful for the collaborative spirit and skillful leadership she displayed as dean. We will look forward to celebrating Chris’ outstanding leadership later in our academic year.