Nowicki re-appointed for second five-year term

Stephen Nowicki, dean and vice provost of undergraduate education, has been appointed to a second five-year term, the University announced Thursday.

Nowicki was reviewed by a faculty committee as part of the standard procedure of reviewing deans and senior administrators every five years.

“Steve is the first dean in this new position and has done an excellent job of fulfilling our desire to have someone responsible for leading and coordinating all facets of undergraduate academic and student life,” Lange said in a press release. “He has made headway in creating greater synergy among the many curricular, co-curricular and social components of our undergraduate experience.”

His position was created in 2007 in the hopes of more effectively integrating academic and student life aspects of the undergraduate experience. Nowicki is also professor of biology, psychology and neuroscience in the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and a professor of neurobiology in the medical school.

Nowicki has worked with Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta to develop the new house model. He has also been a key innovator of new forms of teaching, such as DukeImmerse, a semester-long program that combines classroom learning and global education, Lange said.

Nowicki said he has enjoyed the opportunity to develop the position he holds.

“One of my favorite aspects of the job is changing the way we think about teaching and learning, by bringing faculty and students together in ways that transcend the traditional classroom,” he said. “Both groups learn from each other, plus it’s fun.”

Nowicki came to Duke in 1989 and was named dean of natural sciences in 2004.