Photo by Declan Langton ’22
Jon Western (left) and Dorothy Mosby (right) spoke at a Student Government Association Town Hall meeting in Oct. 2018. Mosby will serve as interim vice president of academic affairs and dean of faculty for two years, following Western’s recent announcement that he would step down.
By Kate Turner ’21
News Editor
Mount Holyoke’s Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Jon Western announced that he would be stepping down from both positions after his four-year term.
“This has been a very difficult decision for me personally, but, particularly at this moment in history, I am looking forward to returning to my work on human rights issues around the world, completing a long-postponed writing project that is near to my heart, reconnecting with students in the classroom and, of course, spending more time with my family,” Western wrote in a letter to the College community.
Professor of Spanish and Associate Dean of Faculty Dorothy Mosby will serve as interim vice president of academic affairs and dean of faculty for a period of two years, through June 3, 2022.
“[Mosby] brings to the role of dean of faculty her deep knowledge and understanding of Mount Holyoke and the life and work of its faculty, a wealth of experience in the administration of academic affairs over the last four years and fresh perspectives,” College President Sonya Stephens wrote in a letter to the community following Dean Western’s announcement. “She also brings to the work ahead her hallmark thoughtful engagement, intellectual energy, great insight and integrity, as well as a genuine concern and strong advocacy for others and for their professional success.”
Beyond the statements released by Dean Western and President Stephens, the College’s communications team was unavailable for comment on the transition.