SAS appoints Licht to lead grad. division

History Professor Walter Licht has been named associate dean for graduate studies in the School of Arts and Sciences, SAS Dean Rosemary Stevens announced this week. Licht will take over the position on Jan. 1, replacing Associate Dean and Chemistry Professor Donald Fitts, who has held the position for 16 years. In late August, Fitts announced plans to step down and return to full-time teaching and research at the end of the semester. Licht received his doctorate in history from Princeton University and served as chairperson of the University's graduate group in history for six years and the undergraduate group for four years. "I'm very pleased that Rosemary Stevens thought highly enough of me to appoint me to the position," Licht said. "It's quite an honor, but I have a lot of learning to do in the next few weeks to get ready to take over." Licht explained that his short-term goal in the position is to be "as good an anchor as [Fitts] was." "I have some other immediate goals, but mostly I'm looking long-term," he added. "We need to start putting our minds together and look at issues across the schools." In the future, Licht said he plans to take a close look at "what graduate education will be like in the year 2000." "I believe that graduate education is very discipline-centered," he added. "We need to look at how good our advising systems are, how well we are able to help our students in terms of getting jobs, and consider further interdisciplinary studies." Licht added that he will continue teaching because he "just can't leave the classroom." "I'm teaching three courses next semester -- that's going to kill me," he added. "But I cannot come out of the classroom -- I love teaching. I'm alive in the classroom." Stevens said Licht's enthusiasm will make him an excellent administrator as well. "Walter Licht is a superb teacher and scholar who will command great respect in this position, both from SAS faculty and from our 2,000 graduate students," she said in a statement. "I am enormously pleased he will join the leadership of this great school." Fitts echoed Stevens' praise, citing Licht's dedication to his graduate students. "I think he's a terrific choice -- I can't think of anybody I'd rather see in the position," Fitts said. "He was a terrific graduate chair and he's an innovative leader who is concerned about his graduate students. He really knows what's going on." Fitts added that several years ago, Licht pioneered the summer dissertation workshop designed to help students finishing their second year write their dissertation proposals. Licht said he is "very excited" about the position, and is hoping to offer support to graduate group chairs like Fitts did for him. "I want to be there for the graduate chairs and my staff in the same way Fitts was," he said. "I always knew he was at the other end of the phone when I had a question. I want other chairs to feel they can come to me too."