Provost Martha Pollack has named an advisory committee to search for a new dean of the Rackham School of Graduate Studies.

Alec Gallimore, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of aerospace engineering, College of Engineering, is chairing the committee. It will be charged Friday with conducting the search and presenting an unranked slate of recommended candidates by the end of fall term 2014.

In a June 2 email to Rackham chairs and directors, Pollack wrote that Rackham Dean Janet Weiss would step down Aug. 31, 2015 after a decade of service.

Additional members of the search committee are:

• Frank Ascione, professor of social and administrative sciences and former dean, College of Pharmacy.

• Elyse Aurbach, Ph.D. candidate, Akil Lab, Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, Neuroscience Graduate Program.

• Rosario (Rosie) Ceballo, professor of psychology, professor of women’s studies, LSA

• Shelly Conner, assistant dean for academic planning and policy, Rackham School of Graduate Studies.

• Caren Deming, Rackham alumna, Rackham dean’s campaign adviser, professor emerita of media arts, University of Arizona.

• Margaret Dewar, professor of urban planning, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning.

• Matthew Lassiter, associate professor of history, LSA, associate professor of architecture and urban planning, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning.

• Nancy Love, professor of civil and environmental engineering, College of Engineering.

• Gina Poe, associate professor of anesthesiology, associate professor of molecular and integrative physiology, Medical School.

• Sidonie Smith, Mary Fair Croushore professor, director of the Institute for the Humanities, professor of English language and literature, and professor of women’s studies, LSA.

In her June email, Pollack praised Weiss, saying she brought rigorous analysis and dedicated leadership to defining strategic goals for improving the experience of graduate education for both students and faculty.

“Dean Weiss spearheaded a number of initiatives to improve the rate of degree completion for both master’s and Ph.D. students,” Pollack said. “These changes in policy, funding and academic support have led to steady increases in the success of Rackham students completing their degrees.”

She added that under Weiss’ leadership, Rackham significantly increased diversity in the graduate student body.

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