Academic Deans

School of Architecture

Dean Michael SpeaksMichael Speaks is dean of the School of Architecture, and has published and lectured internationally on contemporary art, architecture, urban design and scenario planning. He has taught in the graphic design department at the Yale School of Art, and in the architecture programs at Harvard University, Columbia University, the University of Michigan, UCLA.


College of Arts and Sciences

Behzad-MortazaviBehzad Mortazavi was appointed Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in July 2023. Before that, Mortazavi was a professor of biogeochemistry at the University of Alabama (UA) since 2008 and served as chair of the Department of Biological Sciences in UA’s College of Arts and Sciences since 2018.


School of Education

Kelly Chandler-Olcott headshotKelly Chandler-Olcott is the dean of the School of Education and Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence. A former high school English and social studies teacher, she has taught English methods and content literacy courses to secondary and K-12 education majors for nearly 25 years.


College of Engineering and Computer Science

photo of J. Cole SmithJ. Cole Smith joined the College of Engineering and Computer Science as dean in October 2019. Smith came to Syracuse from Clemson University, where he was associate provost for academic initiatives and previously served as Chair of the Department of Industrial Engineering.


David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics

Jeremy JordanJeremy Jordan was appointed dean of the Falk College in Sept. 2023. A seasoned academic with extensive experience in sport and recreation management, Jordan leads the academic departments of exercise science, human development and family science, marriage and family therapy, nutrition and food studies, public health, social work, and sport management.


School of Information Studies

Andrew SearsAndrew Sears joined the School of Information Studies as dean in August 2023. His research explores issues related to human-centered computing and accessibility, with projects addressing issues associated with mobile computing, health information technologies, speech recognition and assessing an individual’s cognitive status via normal daily interactions with information technologies. Sears’ research has been supported by various industry leaders, government agencies and foundations.


College of Law

Photo: College of Law Dean Craig BoiseCraig M. Boise became the 12th dean and professor of law at the College of Law in July 2016, where he has continued to build a reputation as one of legal education’s leading innovators. While at the College of Law, he has established the nation’s first hybrid online J.D. program, the first online joint J.D./M.B.A. program and a unique pre-law/3+3 program for undergrad students at three Historically Black Universities and Colleges in Atlanta, among other achievements.


Martin J. Whitman School of Management

Alex McKelvieAlex McKelvie is interim dean at the Whitman School of Management. Alex previously worked as associate dean at the Whitman School for four years and as the chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises. A professor of entrepreneurship, Alex has been a faculty member at Syracuse University since 2007.


Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

Photo: Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs Dean David M. Van SlykeDavid Van Slyke is dean of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the Louis A. Bantle Chair in Business-Government Policy. Van Slyke is a leading international expert on public-private partnerships, public sector contracting and contract management, and policy implementation.


S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications

Mark LodatoMark J. Lodato was appointed dean of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in July 2020 after more than 14 years at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, where he most recently served as associate dean. Prior to joining the Cronkite School, Lodato worked 16 years as an award-winning television reporter and anchor for television stations in Washington D.C., San Francisco, Phoenix and Ft. Myers, Florida.


College of Visual and Performing Arts

Photo: College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean Michael S. TickWith extensive experience in the performing arts, arts administration, teaching, fundraising and academic leadership, Michael Tick assumed the role of dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts on July 1, 2016.


College of Professional Studies

Photo of Michael FrascielloMichael Frasciello is the dean of the College of Professional Studies. In this role, Frasciello leads an evolving portfolio of market-sensitive residential and online undergraduate and graduate programs, executive and professional accelerated education and training, language and culture programming for international students, and pre-college programs.