Henri Gillet named Interim Graduate College Dean

UIC Provost Michael Tanner announced that MSCS Professor Henri Gillet will be the Interim Dean of the Graduate College.

Here is the text of Provost Tanner's announcement:

Dr. Gillet came to UIC in 1984 from Princeton University after receiving his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1978. He is a pure mathematician whose research focuses on algebraic and arithmetic geometry. An internationally recognized scholar, he has authored over 60 publications, is an ISI highly cited researcher, and has been an editor of the American Journal of Mathematics, the International Mathematics Research Notices, and the Illinois Journal of Mathematics. While at UIC, he has held visiting positions and memberships at the Universite de Paris Sud, the Institute for Advanced Study, the Isaac Newton Institute in Cambridge, the Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques, the Tata Institute for Fundamental Research in Mumbai and the Fields Institute in Toronto.

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Henri Gillet as Interim Dean of the Graduate College, pending Board of Trustees approval, effective August 16, 2009. This will include providing academic leadership for the Graduate College as well as several units within the Provost's Office including the School of Continuing Studies (SCS), the Office for International Affairs, and the US-Asia Executive MBA Program. Dr. Gillet is currently Professor in the Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science and he served as head of that department from 1986 to 1991 (interim head from 1984 to 1986). This appointment follows Clark Hulse's departure from the deanship to focus on his scholarship and his duties as Associate Chancellor and organizer of UIC's Richard J. Daley Urban Forum.

Dr. Gillet is an active and respected member of the university community, having served on committees including the Senate Executive committee, the University Senates Conference and the Campus Promotion and Tenure Committee, as well as President and Chancellor search committees. From 2000 to 2005 he was the Principal Investigator on an NSF grant that brought over $1.5 million to UIC to support graduate students and post-doctoral assistant professors.

I will begin a search this fall to identify the next permanent Dean of the Graduate College. As the search proceeds, I will be reassured to have a colleague of Dr. Gillet's stature and experience to continue to advance the agenda of the graduate dean. Please join me in congratulating him and welcoming him to his new role.