Syracuse University appoints new iSchool dean

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University on Wednesday announced the appointment of Andrew Sears as the next dean of the School of Information Studies, or the iSchool.

Sears’ appointment, which was approved by the executive committee of the board of trustees, begins Aug. 1.

He comes to Syracuse from Penn State University, where he has served as dean of the College of Information Sciences and Technology since 2015,  Syracuse University said in its announcement.

“Through his leadership and scholarship, Andrew has brought renown to Penn State and garnered the respect of faculty and staff in structuring the college to support academic programs, experiential learning, student engagement and faculty success,” Gretchen Ritter, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer, said in the news release.

 “He is joining a dynamic academic enterprise at the iSchool with the depth of experience necessary to continue to move it forward and adapt to an exciting and rapidly evolving information age.”

Ritter expressed gratitude to David Seaman, dean of Syracuse University Libraries and University librarian, for serving as iSchool interim dean after Rajiv (Raj) Dewan concluded his deanship last year.

At Penn State, Sears leads a college that was founded in 1999 and is composed of 150 faculty and staff, offers 24 degree and certificate programs, and has more than 2,100 resident students statewide and nearly 1,500 students taking courses online through Penn State World Campus.