A new dean, who has been a faculty member at the University of Chicago since 2002, has been appointed at the University of Chicago.

Melina Hale has been selected to be the dean at the institution starting on July 1, according to a news release from the university. Hale received a PhD from the University of Chicago in 1998 and holds the esteemed position of William Rainey Harper Professor in the Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy and the College, along with serving as a vice provost of the university.

Her deep ties to the school and prestigious academic background made her a logical choice for the leadership role, according to the University of Chicago.

Hale was “exceptionally qualified to advance the College into the future,” according to President Paul Alivisatos and Provost Katherine Baicker.

“As a renowned scholar, educator and administrator, Melina has both cultivated a rich understanding of the University’s intellectual culture and made lasting contributions to it over her decades-long career here,” said Alivisatos. “Looking ahead, she will steward the college’s distinctive legacy and champion its promising future.”

Hale will replace John W. Boyer, who has been the dean of the College at the University of Chicago for over 30 years. During Boyer's tenure, there was remarkable progress and innovation at the school. In her new role, Hale will be responsible for spearheading a strategic plan for the college and will play a vital role in promoting the University's and the college's core principles, in addition to providing an enriching and life-changing education for undergraduate students.

 “I am honored to serve as the next dean of the College and will work wholeheartedly to further the College’s leadership in deep and creative liberal arts education and its engagement with the principles and practice of free expression,” said Hale, according to the University of Chicago. “Our students are the heart of campus, and I look forward to hearing from them and working with them and colleagues across the University to further enhance academic opportunities and the student experience. I am also very eager to speak with alumni, families, and friends of the College to hear their experiences and ideas.”