Fordham University recently restructured its Arts and Sciences department. The changes include a new leadership structure with one dean serving as the head of all arts and sciences at Fordham. The restructuring is part of a project to enhance leadership structure, according to the University website. 

The restructure “will foster a vibrant intellectual environment and improve efficiency, coordination, and transparency, as well as ensure Arts and Sciences has a clear vision and comprehensive strategy,” according to a statement from the Provost’s office on academic initiatives. The Provost’s office approved of this strategic plan in April of 2024 after introducing it in February of 2023. 

Under the new structure, Jessica Lang, Ph.D., was appointed as the inaugural dean of Arts and Sciences. In this position, she serves as the Dean of Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS). Lang previously served as Dean of the Weismann School of Arts & Sciences at Baruch College, where she focused on strengthening program collaborations between Baruch’s three schools, alongside the Zicklin School of Business and the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs.

Four administrators serve under Lang: Rachel Annunziato, vice dean for Undergraduate Education, Ann Gaylin, vice dean for Graduate Education, Robert Hume, Ph.D., vice dean for Faculty Affairs and Terry Yeboah, executive director for Finance and Administration. Daniel Ott, DMA, senior associate dean for FCLC and Dave Swinarski, Ph.D., senior associate dean for FCRH, also serve under the vice dean for Undergraduate Education. All of these faculty members previously served in other roles at the University.

Ott previously served exclusively as associate professor of music theory and composition, but now serves in his new position in tandem with his previous role. 

“I am continuing to teach classes, though on a reduced schedule,” Ott said in an email when asked if he was still serving in his previous role.

Ott noted how his new role is far different from his previous role. “I am now working in an administrative position as a dean with responsibilities that relate to all of FCLC,” he said. Ott also said that so far, he has done a lot of work behind the scenes in his new job, such as assisting in coordinating new student academic orientation over the summer of 2025. 

“[I] have been working closely with Academic Advising on some new initiatives; all the other things that go into making our programs and academic policies here at FCLC run—a huge part of that is working together with my boss, Rachel Annunziato, Vice Dean of Undergraduate Education; and my FCRH counterpart, Dave Swinarski; as well as the new Dean of Arts & Sciences, Jessica Lang,” Ott said. 

Swinarski was appointed to his new position on July 1, 2025. Previously, he served in the math department as a tenured faculty member, department chair and associate chair, among other positions. While he is still a faculty member in the math department, he is not conducting research or teaching this year. 

“The associate chair and chair positions were considered part time administrative positions, meaning that I did some teaching and research during those years,” Swinarski said in an email. “The associate dean positions are full time,” he said. 

When describing how his old and new positions differ, Swinarski said that while he held leadership positions in math for several years, his new position oversees all of Arts and Sciences, rather than a specific department. He also said that his prior positions focused more on faculty oversight, rather than addressing student issues as he now does.

Swinarski said that another change to the Arts and Sciences department is its location in Keating Hall. He said that he and his colleagues now work closer to Lang and the FCRH Advising Center. 

“Last year, Dean Mast and many of her key personnel were in the Keating 201 office suite,” he said. “In August, we moved to Keating 301-302.” 

Swinarski also spoke on accomplishments in his new position. “The way to measure any associate dean’s success is by how well they support their dean,” he said. “I am dedicated to supporting Vice Dean Rachel Annunziato–to whom I report–and Dean Jessica Lang–to whom she reports.” 

One of the most recent developments in the department has been the tandem advising program, which Swinarski spoke on. “In this plan, each student will have an advising team consisting of an academic advisor plus a faculty member for each of their majors and minors,” Swinarski said. He will be working in close contact with Ott to implement this program across both campuses. 

Annunziato was also appointed on July 1, 2025. In her new position, she is responsible for fostering all undergraduate initiatives for the Arts and Sciences and overseeing both dean’s offices at FCLC and FCRH. 

“Over the summer months, I worked closely with our new Dean of the Arts & Sciences, Professor Jessica Lang, on restructuring some of our dean’s office roles and advising to provide more robust support,” Annunziato said in an email when asked what she has done so far in her new role. 

Annunziato also talked about changes to the advising program. “Shortly, we will be hiring a pre-professional advisor to offer expertise about not only pre-law but also pre-health and other professions and career paths,” she said. Annunziato also said she strives to make students feel welcome and supported in their academic and professional pursuits. 

Of the other faculty members in the Arts and Sciences, Gaylin previously served as the dean of GSAS, a title that has been replaced by her new position. Hume previously served solely as a professor of political science and now holds that position alongside his new title. Yeboah served as the finance director for GSAS before his promotion.

University Provost Dennis Jacobs also shared some comments on the restructuring. “I am delighted that the liberal arts, in all of its richness and complexity, is now under the leadership of a singular Dean of Arts & Sciences, Dr. Jessica Lang,” he said. “As a result of the restructuring, Dean Lang and her leadership team now have the ability to advance our undergraduate and graduate liberal arts programs across both the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses, in a coordinated strategic direction.”