Rajiv “Raj” Dewan, dean of the School of Information Studies, has announced he will conclude his deanship on June 30, 2022. Dewan plans to return to full-time faculty duties while continuing his research. David Seaman, dean of Syracuse University Libraries and University librarian, will serve as interim dean until Dewan’s successor is appointed.
Raj Dewan
“Raj took the helm of the iSchool at a time of extraordinary and rapid change as the pandemic not only transformed the way universities deliver on their educational mission, but also changed the way the world works, becoming even more dependent on information technology and the digital economy,” says Vice Chancellor and Provost Gretchen Ritter. “He has worked closely with faculty to implement new programs that secured the iSchool’s position at the forefront of transformative change in the digital age. I appreciate his leadership and commitment to the iSchool and Syracuse University.”
During Dewan’s tenure as iSchool dean, the Center for the Futures of Work, Information and Technology was created to serve as a hub for sharing ideas and research between faculty, students and eventually third-party partnerships to help secure research funding. To better prepare students for the ever-changing workforce, the iSchool added a certificate of advanced study program in cloud management. Also last fall, the iSchool launched two new undergraduate programs in innovation, society and technology and applied data analytics, along with a new online program for part-time students interested in earning a bachelor’s degree in information management and technology while exploring topics like cybersecurity, machine learning, artificial intelligence and cloud computing, project management and business.
In addition, during the last two years, iSchool faculty earned prestigious grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to fund library and information science projects, and hosted the first Syracuse workshop in blockchain and cryptocurrency research. The iSchool has positioned itself at the forefront of blockchain and cryptocurrency research and education in recent years by offering the first blockchain management course for undergraduates, and online and in-person courses for master’s students.
“Despite the tremendous challenges of the last two years, it has been a great privilege to lead the talented and dedicated faculty, staff and students of the iSchool,” says Dewan. “Together, we have advanced the mission of the iSchool, always with a focus on excellence in teaching and research and preparing our students for the greatest areas of demand in the changing workforce. We did this all while navigating the uncertainty and unknown brought on by a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. I am very much looking forward to returning to the classroom with our great students and alongside my outstanding faculty colleagues, and resuming my research in business analytics and information system standards.”
Dewan came to Syracuse University from the University of Rochester Simon Business School with expertise in both technology and information analytics and an impressive track record of innovating curriculum in teaching and pursuing relevant research.
Seaman is once again stepping into the role of interim dean, a position he previously held from May 2019 to January 2020, between the retirement of longtime iSchool Dean Liz Liddy and the hiring of Dewan.
“David is truly uniquely qualified to guide the iSchool through this next transition in leadership,” says Ritter. “He has an unmatched breadth of experience in working in a collaborative academic environment and knows the qualities of leadership expected by the iSchool and its partners.”
As dean of Libraries and University librarian, Seaman and his team continue to deliver the services and collections necessary to drive 21st-century research, teaching and learning, and to provide welcoming spaces for study, collaboration and innovation. Dean Seaman came to Syracuse after library leadership positions at Dartmouth College, The Digital Library Federation and the University of Virginia. He has lectured and published extensively in the fields of humanities computing and digital libraries and taught for many years at the University of Virginia’s Rare Book School.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.
