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Arts and Humanities dean takes position at Houston

Posted on | March 5, 2010 | 2,188 views |

John Roberts, dean of Arts and Humanities at The Ohio State University, has accepted the position of Dean of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Houston, effective July 1.

Roberts is the author of three books and a number of scholarly articles. A folklore specialist, he has taught all levels of undergraduate and graduate courses. Roberts joined Ohio State’s faculty in 1996 as a professor of English and in 1998 was appointed chair of the Department of African-American and African Studies. He took a leave of absence to spend two years as the deputy chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities in Washington, D.C. In 2003, he was appointed associate dean of the College of Humanities. He has served on numerous departmental, college and university committees.

Before coming to Ohio State, Roberts taught at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a fellow of the American Folklore Society and served as the society’s president from 1997 to 1999 and also as the president of the Association of African and African-American Folklorists from 1989 to 1997. He has served on several other prestigious national committees and boards, including the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, the Board of Directors of the University of Pennsylvania Press, and the Board of the Smithsonian Institution’s Folklife and Cultural Studies Programs.

Roberts holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Tusculum College, a master’s degree in English from Columbia University, and a doctorate in English from Ohio State.

Arts and Humanities is one of three divisions in Ohio State’s Colleges of Arts and Sciences. Joseph Steinmetz , executive dean and vice provost of Arts and Sciences said, “This is a great loss for the Arts and Sciences and Ohio State University. John has served with distinction and unswerving dedication throughout his tenure as professor and dean. Although he will be greatly missed, this is a wonderful opportunity for John and we wish him the best,”  and added, “We will begin an immediate search for his successor.”

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