Dana Heller Named Interim Dean of Arts and Letters
February 19, 2016
Dana Heller, interim dean of the College of Arts and Letters
Dana Heller, the outgoing chair of Old Dominion University's Department of English, will serve as interim dean of the College of Arts and Letters beginning July 25, 2016.
Charles Wilson, dean of Arts and Letters since 2010, announced his resignation last month.
In announcing the appointment, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Chandra de Silva said Heller, who has taught at Old Dominion since 1990, was chosen from among numerous nominations.
De Silva cited Heller's administrative experience as director of ODU's Institute for the Humanities from 1999 to 2010 and her enthusiastic support of interdisciplinary programs, including launching the annual interdisciplinary junior faculty forum.
"As chair of the Department of English, she has successfully led the largest department on campus with some 50 full-time faculty and over 60 adjuncts for six years," de Silva said. "This department has several graduate programs and provides vital support for the University's general education program."
Heller was designated Eminent Scholar by Old Dominion in 2012. She has received an Outstanding Faculty Award (1997) from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, ODU's Charles E. and Elizabeth Burgess Award for Research and Creativity (2007) and two Fulbright Senior Specialist awards.