Associate Dean of Faculty Teresa Garrett Leaving Vassar

Dear Vassar Community,

I am writing to share news that Associate Dean of Faculty Teresa Garrett will be leaving Vassar this July to become the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College at Sweet Briar College. Professor Garrett began at Vassar as an assistant professor of chemistry in 2007 and since then has compiled an outstanding record as a teacher, researcher, and leader. She has been Principal Investigator or Co-PI on four National Science Foundation grants and has published dozens of academic papers, often with her students as co-authors. She received tenure in 2013 and was promoted to full professor in 2017. In academic year 2016/17, she served as mentor to Vassar’s fourth cohort of Posse veterans.

In addition to her important academic work, Professor Garrett has had myriad administrative accomplishments. As Chair of the Assessment Committee, she spearheaded the development of a comprehensive learning outcomes assessment program. She became Associate Dean of the Faculty in 2017 and took on a wide-ranging portfolio in the Dean’s Office. She spearheaded Vassar’s Middle States Reaccreditation effort culminating in the April visit by our reaccreditation team and the announcement of the outcome expected next month. She has represented the Dean’s Office on the group shepherding the rebalanced curriculum and “Intensives” throughout a two-year planning and implementation process. Professor Garrett has also been serving on the steering committee for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute funded Grand Challenges Program and has been part of the climate assessment and inclusive pedagogies working groups for the Engaged Pluralism Initiative (EPI).

I have called on Professor Garrett often for sound advice, and she has been fearless in tackling difficult challenges and committed to improving student and faculty experiences at Vassar. Sweet Briar College is lucky to attract Professor Garrett, and she will be deeply missed here. Please join me in congratulating Professor Garrett and wishing her well in her new adventure.

Thanks,

Elizabeth H. Bradley, President

Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
@EHBVassar