Victoria Rodríguez, vice provost and dean of graduate studies at The University of Texas at Austin, is stepping down from her administrative duties effective Jan. 31 to return full time to her research and the classroom at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. Rodríguez was appointed as a vice provost in 2001 and dean of the graduate school in 2003.
“Dean Rodríguez has led the Graduate School in strategic and visionary ways for the past nine years,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Steven W. Leslie. “As she decides to return to her roots in academic teaching and research, there is no doubt that the fruits of her leadership leave The University of Texas at Austin significantly stronger.”
During her tenure as dean, Rodríguez has raised funds for graduate student fellowship stipends, and she created The 1910 Society as part of the yearlong centennial celebration for the graduate school. Working in close partnership with the other academic deans, Rodríguez oversaw one of the largest graduate schools in the United States.
Rodríguez will retain her position as the university’s Ashbel Smith Professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, where she has taught courses on women in politics and public policy, and theory and philosophy of public policy. Prior to joining UT in 1991, she held teaching positions at the University of California, San Diego, and the University of Texas at El Paso. She was also a research associate at the University of Cambridge and has served as a consultant for the World Bank.
Beginning Feb. 1, 2012, Vice Provost Judith Langlois will serve as interim dean for the school until more permanent leadership is chosen. The university will begin that selection process in Fall 2012.
“The school is in good hands with Vice Provost Langlois,” Leslie said. “Judy has very strong leadership skills and deep experience, including having served as interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts twice. Additionally, she has a great vision and passion for graduate student education. We are fortunate to have her leadership.”
Appointed vice provost in 2007, Langlois’ responsibilities include academic governance issues, including new dean searches and six-year dean reviews. Her portfolio also contains academic personnel matters, including equity, gender and faculty policies and management of the faculty grievance process.
Langlois, who received her Ph.D. from Louisiana State University, joined the faculty at The University of Texas at Austin in 1973 and through the years has served in several key leadership roles on campus. She is a past associate dean of liberal arts and was interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts during the 2006 academic year. She also served as dean ad interim for the college during the 1998 academic year.
In recognition of her contributions to The University of Texas at Austin, Langlois has been presented one of the university’s highest awards. In 2005-06 she was one of two recipients of the Civitatis Award, which is presented to faculty members who have shown exemplary campus citizenship throughout a career of service at the university.
