Message from the Dean

Dean Maxson's
Curriculum Vitae

Dean Maxson's Self-Study

Diversity in the College

State of the College

Mission Statement

Strategic Plan

The Dean of the College, Linda Maxson, provides educational leadership for the College's teaching and research missions, promotes the academic quality and welfare of the College's faculty and students, and directs strategic planning processes and allocation of the budget. Dean Maxson works closely with the College's elected Executive Committee on collegiate policy and budget issues and consults with the associate deans on all general policy questions.

Dean Maxson received her B.S. in zoology and her M.A. in biology from San Diego State University (SDSU) and earned her Ph.D. in 1973 in genetics in a joint doctoral program of the University of California at Berkeley and SDSU. Before coming to Iowa as dean in 1997, she won respect as a teacher and administrator at a number of universities, including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she founded and directed the Chancellor's Honors Program, and at Penn State, where as professor and head of the biology department she built a department of international acclaim. As associate vice chancellor and dean of undergraduate academic affairs at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, she revitalized the promotion and tenure process and invigorated academic programs, focusing on faculty development and undergraduate research.

As a scientist, Dean Maxson has had a distinguished career in molecular evolutionary biology. She has done field work on four continents, published over 115 papers in premier journals, and authored four editions of a genetics textbook. Her research in molecular systematics was supported continuously for over twenty years by the National Science Foundation. A recipient of the Distinguished Herpetologist Award of The Herpetologist's League, she is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Barbara Yerkes works with Dean Maxson, as staff for the Executive Committee and in support of departmental and program reviews. The College's Budget Officer, Karna Wieck, is also an Assistant to the Dean. Carla Carr, the College's Director of External Relations, works closely with the Dean on matters of interest and importance to alumni and friends of the College.

Contact Denise Hamer to schedule an appointment with Dean Maxson.