University of Iowa taps new dean for liberal arts college

IOWA CITY - A professor and chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of South Carolina will be the new dean of the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences beginning Aug. 15, assuming his appointment is confirmed by the Iowa Board of Regents, the university announced Friday.

Chaden Djalali, 56, has been a member of the University of South Carolina physics faculty since 1989, and has chaired the department since 2004.

“I am truly honored to have been chosen as the next dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Iowa,” Djalali said in a news release announcing his appointment.“I am ready to ‘roll up my sleeves' and look forward to working closely with students, staff, faculty, and administrators to further the research, educational, and service missions of the college and the university. "

According to the news release, Djalali received his bachelor of science and master of science degrees from the University of Paris XI and doctoratefrom Institut de Physique Nucléaire (IPN-Orsay) in Paris. He served in tenured research positions at IPN-Orsay and worked for two years in the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich., before coming to South Carolina. He is married and has two daughters.

Djalali will replace Linda Maxson, who has served as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for 15 years and who plans to rejoin the UI biology faculty.His salary will be $325,000.

Djalali was one of three finalists interviewed on the UI campus by a committee chaired by David Johnsen, dean of the College of Dentistry.