Robert Stacey, Dean of the University of Washington College of Arts and Sciences, has announced that Professor Brian Reed, Chair of the Department of English and Milliman Endowed Chair in the Humanities, will be the next Divisional Dean of the Humanities.
“Brian Reed is a world-class scholar, an engaging teacher, and an experienced administrator,” said Dean Stacey. “I am delighted and grateful that he has agreed to succeed Mike Shapiro as Divisional Dean of the Humanities, and I look forward to working with him to strengthen the Humanities Division in the years ahead.”
Brian Reed is a specialist in American poetry, with a concentration in contemporary poetry. He is the author of three books, including Hart Crane: After His Light and Nobody’s Business: 21st-Century Avant-Garde Poetics,and has three more books in process. He has published more than forty articles and book chapters on modern and contemporary poetry, and serves on multiple Executive Committees and Editorial Boards including the journal publication Contemporary Literature and MLA’s Forum on Poetry and Poetics.
Reed brings to this appointment a deep investment in the value of the humanities. “The humanities open the world to our students,” remarked Reed. “They grant access to diverse histories, societies, and languages, inviting students to see the world from a multitude of vantage points. They help our students forge vital skills – clear communication, critical thinking, and creativity. In this rapidly-changing global landscape, a deep study of the humanities is vital in producing the expansive, nimble thinkers who will help to define the future.”
Professor Anis Bawarshi will be taking over as Acting Chair of the Department of English on July 1st, and Professor Maya Sonenberg will become the new Associate Chair.