Jessica Lang, Ph.D., will be Fordham University’s inaugural dean of Arts and Sciences. The office of the president announced the news in an email to the Fordham community on March 10. Lang will begin at Fordham on July 1, 2025. 

“Dr. Lang is a champion for the liberal arts, embodies the ideals of Jesuit education, and is a highly effective fundraiser,” said the email from President Tania Tetlow and Provost Dennis Jacobs. “She is eager to work collaboratively with Fordham’s faculty, students, and staff to advance the mission of Arts and Sciences for the 21st century.”

In this role, Lang will oversee all departments in Arts and Sciences. This includes Fordham College of Lincoln Center, Fordham College of Rose Hill and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

“Fordham’s inaugural dean of Arts and Sciences will have authority, budgetary control, and oversight for all undergraduate and graduate academic programs, faculty matters, and campus-based initiatives in the arts and sciences,” said the email.

Lang is currently the dean of Baruch College’s Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, a position she has held since 2021. Prior to this, she was a professor of English, an academic administrator and Newman Director of Baruch’s Wasserman Jewish Studies Center.

The dean of Arts and Sciences is a new position established by a reorganization proposal from the Office of the Provost that was approved last spring.