The College welcomes Jessica Siegel as its new associate dean for academic and student affairs effective Jan. 1 on a half-time basis, changing to full-time June 1. Siegel is a tenured associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
She replaces Henri Jansen who will retire after a 36-year exemplary career at Oregon State. He will stay on part-time to help with the transition for three to six months.
“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Siegel to Oregon State as the new associate dean for academic and student affairs in the College of Science,” said Roy Haggerty, dean of the College of Science. “Her vision for promoting student success and fostering programming to enhance student community and inclusion aligns well with the strategic goals of the College. I look forward to her contributions as a vital member of our executive leadership team.”
Siegel brings to the position extensive evidence-based knowledge of best practices for student success and a strong commitment to equity, access and inclusion. The College will benefit from her successful administrative experience, passion for student success and inclusion, and her demonstrated ability to build effective relationships across cultures, disciplinary perspectives and professional orientations.
During her tenure at the University of St. Thomas, Siegel has been integrally involved in developing, implementing and evaluating student success efforts related to advising, diversity and inclusion and first-year programming. She served as co-director of the First-Year Experience program at the University of St. Thomas and served previously as the director and co-director of the neuroscience program, as well as the creator and chair of the neuroscience minor at The University of the South. She has 10 years of experience teaching neuroscience courses at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Siegel, a native of the Pacific Northwest, received her Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience from Oregon Health & Science University and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Puget Sound. Her recent scholarship focuses on the neurobiological and behavioral effects of adolescent drug exposure. She has a strong record of research and publication as a faculty member with a focus on training undergraduate students in the lab.
As associate dean, Siegel will be a member of the College’s Executive Leadership Team and will lead the College’s student success efforts, identifying and implementing strategies to improve its academic, recruitment, retention and co-curricular programs. She will be responsible for developing and implementing programs and strategies to improve undergraduate student success and inclusion by closing gaps in degree completion for Pell-eligible, first-generation and underrepresented science students.
In addition to supporting a robust student advising program and serving as point person on student conduct concerns, she will work to promote excellence in curricula and assessment, and will lead the achievement of student recruitment goals.
“I was drawn to Oregon State and the College of Science because of the emphasis on inclusiveness and accessible excellent science education, and I am honored to have the opportunity to contribute to these goals,” Siegel said. “I am thrilled to begin working with the OSU community and the faculty, staff and students in the College of Science in our shared efforts to increase access and inclusion and promote student success.”
“My administrative work has focused on enhancing equity and removing the hidden curriculum for first-year students with the aim of welcoming all students to college, regardless of background. My administrative work has also enhanced community engagement on campus for first-year students in an effort to promote student success and foster a community of connection and inclusion. I look forward to working with the College of Science to promote student success and foster programming to enhance student community and inclusion.”
Siegel’s appointment as associate dean follows a national search conducted in partnership with RPA, an executive recruitment and consulting firm specializing in higher education. The College of Science wishes to thank the search committee, which was chaired by Dr. Vrushali Bokil, for a very successful search.
Henri Jansen, who served in this role since 2018, announced early this year that he would step down to retire. Jansen has been a tireless advocate and collaborator across the university to improve student success and teaching in lower division education.
“I want to thank Henri for his leadership and service over the last four years,” said Haggerty. “Henri's care and attention to students, other faculty, the Department of Physics, the College of Science and OSU have always impressed me. I have known Henri for more than 20 years, and he has been an excellent faculty member and leader during that time.”
Throughout his 36-year career at OSU, Jansen has held many administrative roles, including serving as physics department chair for 16 years from 1998 to 2014. In the Department of Physics, he held the roles of program advisor since 2003 and lead advisor since 2012.
In 2015, he received the Olaf Boedtker Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising in the College of Science, which honors advisors with exceptional and inspirational advising of undergraduate students. In 2017, he received OSU’s prestigious Dar Reese Excellence in Advising Award for outstanding undergraduate advising.
