Bell Appointed New Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

November 20, 2017

Professor Chris Bell has been named the Jackson School of Geosciences’ associate dean for academic affairs, replacing Professor Richard Ketcham, whose term ended this summer.

“I’d like to personally thank Rich for his fine service in the positon,” said Dean Sharon Mosher. “Chris is an outstanding researcher, educator and mentor and will be a tremendous fit as associate dean for academic affairs.”

Bell is exceptionally qualified for this position, where he will be responsible for academic affairs for the Jackson School, including the undergraduate program,student affairs and admissions. He is an outstanding educator as shown by his numerous teaching awards, including The University of Texas at Austin’s Chancellor’s Council Outstanding Teaching Award, Texas Exes Teaching Award, Jackson School’s Outstanding Educator Award, and five-time winner of the department’s Knebel Teaching Award, among many others.

Bell just finished a four-year term as graduate adviser in 2016, and along with Bill Carlson, started the Jackson School’s Undergraduate Research Honors Program in 2005.

Bell, who joined the Department of Geological Sciences in 1997 as an assistant professor, is the John A. Wilson Fellow in Vertebrate Paleontology. His research centers on understanding the complex dynamics of vertebrate faunal communities during the Quaternary Period. He is interested in investigating patterns of vertebrate evolution, biodiversity and biogeography throughout the Quaternary, and the responses of different vertebrate groups to the various changes in climate that took place during the past two million years.