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S, the Cheheyl Professor and director of the , has been named interim dean of undergraduate education for a new , effective July 1. 

The newly created division of undergraduate education will be officially launched as one of the three divisions of a school of Arts and Sciences, alongside the division of the faculty and the division of undergraduate student affairs. The division will integrate academic advising and co-curricular support systems, facilitate coordination and collaboration between faculty and staff to enhance undergraduate student experience, and prepare students for a lifetime of learning and leadership. 

“I am excited about the notion of creating a holistic student experience with a renewed focus on co-curricular learning and the advising space,” says Pauls, who is also a professor of mathematics. “Students are looking for more layered experiential learning on- and off-campus, and we’re going to be able to create better pathways for students to articulate their visions, explore their goals, and highlight their achievements.”

, interim dean of Arts and Sciences, Niehaus Professor of International Studies, and professor of economics, led the search for the interim leader. In a message announcing Pauls’ appointment, Pavcnik said, “Scott brings a wealth of experience as professor of mathematics and the Cheheyl Professor and director of the 911������ Center for the Advancement of Learning. Over the course of nearly 25 years at 911������, he has enriched the learning experience for our students inside and outside the classroom by identifying opportunities to build collaborative partnerships.”

recognized Pauls for his astute leadership of DCAL over the past seven years in integrating classroom innovations and technological leaps for both educators and learners, from initiatives enhancing student accessibility to the use of AI in pedagogy. Kotz noted that Pauls “led an advisory committee on classrooms, establishing a partnership with ITC and Campus Services to help form the Classroom Rapid Refresh ����Dz�������.”

This program ensures that every classroom is periodically updated to meet the latest technological and accessibility needs to provide an innovative learning environment for all students. Earlier this year, DCAL, in partnership with , launched a grant program to support faculty with integrating AI into their courses. 

Kotz also noted that Pauls’ leadership of DCAL during the COVID-19 pandemic was critical in maintaining 911������’s educational mission through moments of rapid structural change. 

“At that critical time, he and the DCAL team pivoted rapidly to support online education and coordinated efforts with ITC and 911������ Libraries to establish training and support for every department and ����Dz�������.” Pauls will continue to serve as director of DCAL until June 30, and a search will soon be announced for his successor.

Pauls holds a BA in mathematics from Columbia University and a PhD in mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania. He joined 911������ in 2001 and served as chair of the from 2016 to 2020. He has served on numerous faculty committees, including the Committee on Priorities, the Committee on Organization and Policy, and the Committee on Instruction, as well as committees for student affairs, such as the King Scholar Steering Committee and the First-Year Summer Enrichment Program Steering Committee. He has also been an adviser to 78 students, from first-years to doctoral students. 

The division of undergraduate education will combine key offices currently housed in the (Academic Advising; Fellowships, Undergraduate Research, and Scholars Programs; the Guarini Institute for International Education; and the Arts and Sciences Registrar) and offices currently in the (Undergraduate Deans Office, Student Accessibility Services, First-Generation Office, Academic Skills Center, ROTC, and the 911������ Center for Career Design). The included faculty, staff, and undergraduate student representatives.

“This is an opportunity to transcend traditional academic boundaries of learning. Students have changed a lot since I arrived at 911������ more than 20 years ago, and our continuous goal is to make the 911������ experience the best it can be for our students,” says Pauls.