ISU Names Arts and Sciences Dean
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana State University has named Christopher Olsen dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He is an accomplished, and locally known, educator and leader. Olsen has been a member of the faculty since 1999 and has served as chair of the history department from 2002 to 2016, when he was selected as interim dean of the college. He has published and presented numerous academic articles, books and book chapters, served on an array of panels and provided invaluable institutional service at State and for his discipline.
Among Olsen’s responsibilities in higher education have been curriculum development, revision and assessment; distance education curriculum development, teaching and assessment; faculty hiring, development and evaluation; graduate education; student advising; multi-disciplinary programs; community engagement and experiential learning; state regulations and external relationships; alumni relations and fundraising.
As interim dean, he led the integration of the Center for Genomic Advocacy and master’s of genetic counseling into the college; selection of a new chairperson for multidisciplinary studies; planning of the sesquicentennial dinner and celebration for the college; and completion of new viewbook publication for the college.
Olsen earned a Ph.D. in U.S. history from the University of Florida, a master’s in U.S. history from the University of Nebraska and a bachelor’s in history from North Dakota State University.
The university’s second-oldest, largest and most academically diverse college, Arts and Sciences employs 370 faculty members, including 177 tenured or tenure-track faculty. More than 3,800 students are enrolled majors in the college, including about 500 students in graduate programs.