Good morning colleagues.
As we pass the one-year anniversary of the profound impacts COVID-19 has had on our campus, I hope you are well and having a good semester. I continue to feel proud of the way our community has dealt with the pandemic, and because of your great work, I am optimistic there will be better days ahead soon. Today, I would like to share with you two developments in key positions at UMD.
Interim Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
As mentioned in a previous message, EVCAA Fernando Delgado will be leaving us this summer as he assumes an exciting new role as President of Lehman College in New York on July 1. I am pleased to announce that Dr. Amy B. Hietapelto has accepted the position of Interim Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs upon Fernando’s departure. Many of you know Dr. Hietapelto, who has served as our Dean of the Labovitz School of Business and Economics since July 2013. Between UMD and her previous institutions, she brings a total of 16 years of administrative leadership to this interim role.
In her tenure with us, Dean Hietapelto has routinely demonstrated strong leadership skills and been an active and strategic member of our academic affairs leadership team, as well as serving on my leadership team as the dean representative. Dean Hietapelto has helped lead LSBE through comprehensive strategic planning, two reaffirmations of AACSB accreditation, facilitated the introduction of several new innovative academic programs, including Professional Sales and Business Analytics, increased resources and support for faculty and staff, and increased LSBE’s international and industry engagement.
Dr. Hietapelto will maintain the Dean of LSBE role until EVCAA Delgado’s departure sometime in June. Until then, they will work together to ensure a smooth transition. Dr. Praveen Aggarwal, who has been associate dean of LSBE for the last nine years, has agreed to serve as the Interim Dean of LSBE when the transition occurs this summer. At the same time, I will remain in contact with system leadership to determine the next steps to initiate an EVCAA search. I hope to have more information about this process by the end of the summer or early fall. Dr. Hietapelto has agreed to serve in her interim role until a search for the next EVCAA is complete.
Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
In our Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, Annalisa Peterson has done a tremendous job supporting members of our campus community. With much appreciation for her work and dedication, I write to notify you that Annalisa has informed us that she will be stepping away from this role. I am very grateful for the important work she has done at UMD and thank her for bringing such poise, compassion, and wisdom to this position. Her last day with us will be March 12. She will be missed and we wish her well as she moves to a new chapter in her career.
I am in active conversations with the system Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action about filling this important position. In the meantime, the central EOAA office will support UMD as needed. For any EOAA related matters after Annalisa’s departure on March 12, please contact eoaa@umn.edu or visit the EOAA website for more information.
While our truncated spring break happens today and tomorrow, I hope you are able to take a few more breaths and reset for the conclusion of the academic year. Thank you again for your continued support of our students and campus community. You all have my best wishes and appreciation.
Sincerely,
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor
