By:
Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Rackham Graduate School is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Abigail J. Stewart, the Sandra Schwartz Tangri Distinguished University Professor of Psychology and Women's Studies in LS&A, as Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Initiatives in the Rackham Graduate School, effective June 1, 2009 for a three year term. She will replace Toni Antonucci, who left Rackham to become Associate Vice President of Research.

Dr. Stewart received her Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1975. Before coming to the University of Michigan she was on the faculty at Boston University from 1975-1987, and was the founding director of the Henry A. Murray Research Center of Radcliffe College (1978-1980). Dr. Stewart joined the faculty at the University of Michigan in the Department of Psychology and the Women's Studies Program of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts in 1987. She served as director of the Women's Studies Program from 1989-1995 and as director of the Institute for Research on Women and Gender from 1995-2002. From 2002-2004, Dr. Stewart served as the associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.

Dr. Stewart's research interests lie in the area of the psychology of women's lives, personality, and adaptation to personal and social changes. Her current research, which combines qualitative and quantitative methods, includes comparative analyses of longitudinal studies of educated women's lives and personalities; a collaborative study of race, gender and generation in the graduates of a Midwest high school; and research and interventions on gender, race and sexuality as they affect people's careers in science and technology.

Dr. Stewart brings to the Graduate School her vision, energy, broad research and administrative experience, strong academic values, and the ability to work collaboratively across disciplines to innovate with faculty, students, and staff.

While serving as associate dean, Dr. Stewart will also continue as the director of the ADVANCE Program at the University of Michigan which promotes institutional transformation with respect to women faculty in science and engineering.