Dear AU Community,

I am pleased to report that Max Friedman, who has ably served as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) since July 2020, has agreed to extend his service in this role.

Since assuming the interim deanship, Max has been a continual source of creativity and compassion in our work. In addition to supporting the academic pursuits of our students and faculty, Max has overseen the launch of research and teaching in our new Hall of Science and of the CAS Antiracist Curriculum Development Initiative, among many other activities. One of his most significant achievements has been the creation of the AU Virtual Tutoring Corps, which matches federal work study students with AU faculty and staff seeking tutoring for their children. 

There is much to be done in the coming months as we return to in-person activities. Max’s continued engagement and leadership through his work as interim dean will provide a steady and informed perspective at a time when all our efforts are directed at safely moving our community toward the on-campus experiences that are so important to all of us. I know I speak for our deans and our campus leadership in saying we look forward to continuing our collaborations with Max on behalf of AU’s students and academic mission.

We will provide further updates about the future plans for the CAS deanship in September. I want to thank the College’s faculty, staff, and students for their extraordinary efforts over the past year and, most especially, to commend Max for his ongoing service and commitment to American University.

All the best,

Peter Starr
Acting Provost and Chief Academic Officer