Dr. Alissa J. Arp has accepted the position of Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Southern Oregon University (SOU). Dean Arp has served as the Vice President for Research and Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at Hawaii Pacific University since 2006. Before that, she served for 11 years as director of the Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies at San Francisco State University.

“Dr. Arp brings extensive experience in all aspects of university administration, from academic affairs to public and governmental relations,” says SOU Provost James Klein. “She will have a solid foundation for working with the faculty to build the future of the College of Arts and Sciences.” The CAS faculty affirmed her appointment. She takes over for founding dean of the College, Dr. Josie Wilson.

“I am particularly pleased to be moving from a career that has been largely focused on science into a more integrated liberal arts arena, where I hope to sustain and enhance interdisciplinary programs and seek out creative opportunities for community collaboration and local and national funding for SOU programs,” says Dr. Arp.

Dr. Arp received her PhD and MA in biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She received a BA with honors in biology from Sonoma State University. As a professor of biology at San Francisco State University, Dr. Arp participated in eight deep-sea submersible dives to depths in excess of one and a half miles.

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