Peter Flemings Named Interim Department Chair

February 2, 2026

Dear Jackson School community,

When I accepted the interim Dean position last week, I was tasked with finding an interim Department Chair on an ultra-short timeframe. Considering the administrative and managerial demand of the Chair role, this frankly seemed like an impossible job. Hence, I am extremely delighted to share with you that Dr. Peter Flemings has agreed to serve as the interim Chair of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.

Peter is a world-class scientist who leads a top-notch research group and cutting-edge laboratory facilities in the department. He has close ties to both the Institute for Geophysics and the Bureau of Economic Geology. Peter’s record of research accomplishment and prowess speaks for itself. I had the pleasure to work closely with Peter when he served as the Associate Chair of the Subsurface, Surface & Life research program during my first term as Department Chair. We worked together closely on a range of issues; two of the most impactful were the undergraduate curriculum overhaul and graduate teaching assistant allocations through joint research proposals. He is a very innovative leader, and I look forward to seeing his impact on the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the Jackson School in his new role.

Please join me in thanking Peter for taking on this demanding administrative role on very short notice. During this abrupt switch, I will do everything I can to help Peter make this process as smooth as possible. While Peter can rely on an excellent EPS Department office staff, please help him and me in making this transition as successful as possible.

Best,

Danny Stockli, interim Dean