Prof. Stuart Tyson Smith appointed Director of ISBER

August 10, 2017

 

TO:  Campus Community  

FR:  Joseph Incandela, Vice Chancellor for Research  

RE:  Institute for Social, Behavioral & Economic Research

 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Stuart Tyson Smith, Professor of Anthropology, as Director of the Institute for Social, Behavioral & Economic Research effective July 1, 2017.

Dr. Smith, who received his Ph.D. in Archeology at UCLA, has been a member of the UCSB faculty since 1998. He is a leading researcher in the areas of Egypt and Nubia civilizations. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, National Geographic Society, and Packard Humanities Institute. We are fortunate that a scholar of his distinction has agreed to take on this very important role.

Since its founding, the Institute for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Research (ISBER) has served as the central institute for sponsored research in the social sciences and related disciplines at UCSB.  ISBER’s original charge was to “serve as a major resource for basic research in the social sciences,” encouraging “faculty participation in interdisciplinary research.” ISBER performs a critical function at UCSB, providing outstanding service in research development and administration to an extremely wide range of clients.  ISBER is unique in serving such a broad range of research fields, with research collaborations extending across the campus.

I would like to thank the members of the Search Committee for their outstanding service in carrying out this search. The members of the committee were Norah Dunbar (Chair), Noah Friedkin, Diane Fujino, Kyle Lewis, Kathy Scheidemen, and Doug Steigerwald. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Stuart Sweeney, Professor of Geography, for his excellent work as Director of the Institute for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Research over the last five years.