Although the recently concluded search for the position of Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies and Student Success did not result in the appointment of either of the finalists who visited campus last month, I am very pleased to announce that our quest for a highly qualified Associate Provost has proved successful, after all, with Ralf Peetz’s acceptance of an interim appointment to the position, effective Friday, June 3, 2016.
Ralf has been a member of the Chemistry Department faculty at CSI since 2003, and is also a long-time member of the Graduate Center Doctoral Faculty in Chemistry. His areas of academic specialization include functional materials and macromolecular engineering, future energy needs, and science in education. He has published nearly 40 refereed articles and other papers, has been PI or co-PI on several significant grants, and has received numerous CUNY internal awards. He received his Vordiplom in Chemistry from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (Germany), and his MS and PhD in Chemistry from The University of Hamburg. Prior to joining the CSI faculty, he served for three years as Visiting Scientist at the Maurice Morton Institute of Polymer Science at the University of Akron.
He has served in many faculty leadership roles at CSI. These roles have included membership on the Teacher Education and Science, Letters and Society advisory boards, chairing of the Graduate Studies Committee, membership on the Institutional Planning Committee, and–currently–service as Vice Chair of the Faculty Senate. He has also served on the Honors College Advisory Boards for both the CSI Macaulay Honors Program and The Verrazano School and as a member of the General Education Committee. In addition, he has mentored more than 20 undergraduate researchers, as well as five doctoral students. Ralf also has an extensive record of community service.
CSI is indeed fortunate that Ralf Peetz has stepped forward to accept this leadership role directed at the strengthening of undergraduate studies, generally, and support for student success, in particular. I am sure you join me in congratulating him and wishing him great success in his new position.
