Meet Our New Associate Deans

From the September 2017 Desktop News | The College of Arts and Sciences welcomed two new associate deans this fall. Dr. Lisa Pawloski, formerly of George Mason University, was named associate dean of international programs, a new position in the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Ray White, UA professor of physics and former chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, was named associate dean of natural sciences and mathematics.

Dr. Lisa Pawloski, Associate Dean, International Programs

Lisa Pawloski
Lisa Pawloski

Education: BA in Biology from Texas A&M University (minors in Chemistry and Anthropology); MA in Bioanthropology from Indiana University; PhD in Bioanthropology from Indiana University (minors in African Studies and Nutrition)

Hometown: Good question…. I was born in El Paso, Texas but have lived in California, Greece, Texas, Indiana, Mali, Korea, and Virginia.  I have lived in Fairfax, Virginia, for the past 18 years with the exception of one year in South Korea working on the Mason Korea campus. And now I live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama!

Responsibilities: I support international activities including but not limited to international student recruitment, study abroad programs and initiatives, and international collaborations regarding research, teaching, and service.

Before UA: I was a professor of nutrition and founding chair of the nutrition and food studies department at George Mason for 5 years. I was also the dean of academic affairs on our Mason Korea campus from 2015-2016, and I was the founding chair of the department of global and community health from 2005 to 2012.

Research interests: I am interested in childhood/adolescent obesity and its biocultural and environmental determinants.  My doctoral work was done in Mali, West Africa, where I explored the impact of diet, culture, household structure, and energy expenditure on adolescent growth, development, and nutrition.  More recently I work in transitional countries and have conducted research related to obesity in Nicaragua, France, Costa Rica, Thailand, Chile, China, Kenya, the U.S., and Mexico.

Most looking forward to: I am really looking forward to learning about the many international activities and programs within the College of Arts and Sciences and helping to develop and enhance new and existing international initiatives. I also enjoy learning about new disciplines and exploring the connections and common goals between those disciplines.  Lastly, I am hoping to help our students better understand the world around them and become engaged global citizens. I am also looking forward to trying a few meat and three sides restaurants and watching a few football games!

Fun fact: I very much enjoy traveling and meeting people from other cultures.  My favorite spots to visit when I travel are grocery stores and university campuses. I love playing Boggle and watching movies (often scary or science fiction). I also like to run (but maybe more on a treadmill until the weather cools down).  I have a 12-year-old daughter, my partner is also a professor at UA in geography, and we have a Jack Russel Terror (oops.. I mean Terrier). Lastly, I enjoy ballet and dance, so my office is in a great location!

Dr. Ray White, Associate Dean, Natural Sciences & Mathematics

Ray White
Ray White

Education: AB in Physics from Princeton University; MA and PhD in Astronomy from the University of Virginia

Hometown: Tuscon, Arizona

Responsibilities: I liaise with six departments in the College’s natural sciences and mathematics division; oversee the hiring of new faculty in these departments and negotiate their research startup packages; manage research mentoring programs for junior faculty; liaise with the Graduate School on issues related to our graduate students; and oversee construction and renovation projects in College buildings.

Before UA: I came to UA from a postdoc at the University of Cambridge, England. Until last year, I was chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy for the prior 10 years.

Research interests: I use X-ray observatory satellites orbiting in space to observe and analyze the hot gas that pervades galaxy groups and clusters, as well as individual galaxies. I study the chemical and energy content of this hot gas to determine how galaxies and clusters of galaxies evolve.

Most looking forward to: I am most looking forward to helping the departments of the College continue to move onwards and upwards in our research productivity and our inter/national reputation.

Fun fact: I like to explore ancient archaeological sites, hike in the desert Southwest, kayak in the Florida panhandle, and I almost always wear red socks.