The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

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The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

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Brian Richardson, Contributor • March 28, 2024
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New dean encourages intellectual diversity

For new dean Thomas DiPiero, leading Dedman College is a welcome challenge.

“There’s such tremendous goodwill and interest in improving research and education,” DiPiero said. “The students I met were bright and engaged. What more could you ask for?”

Moving to SMU from University of Rochester, DiPiero will be bringing a strong background in interdisciplinary education, a skill in a school like Dedman which offers more than 39 baccalaureate degree programs and more than 50 minors.

“I’ll bring knowledge of trans-disciplinary work,” he said. “At University of Rochester, I led a program that was half engineering and half humanities. I hope to develop those kinds of programs that bridge bigger spans than one might normally seek and push that education to the next level.”

DiPiero, who specializes in 17th and 18th century fiction, is no stranger to SMU. He spent a week at SMU-in-Taos in 2011 teaching English graduate students.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” DiPiero said. “The environment,— physical and intellectual — was really conducive to high-level intensive work.”

DiPiero succeeds William Tsutsui, who resigned last spring to become president at
Hendrix College.

“I am excited about Dedman College’s future under the leadership of Dr. DiPiero,” SMU President R. Gerald Turner said in a press release. “The College, which is the heart of an SMU education, will benefit from his interdisciplinary approach to the humanities and sciences, as well as from his passion for research and teaching. He’s a great fit for Dedman College and for SMU.”

DiPiero is not only a “great fit” for SMU, but hopes he fits with the city of Dallas as well. He plans to solidify the relationship not only between the university and the city, but also SMU and its Dallas-based alumni.

A self-proclaimed, “decent” cook, he’s looking forward to exploring the Dallas restaurant and arts scene. He’ll join the incoming Class of 2018 in exploring Dallas, and Dedman College for the first time.

“My best advice for incoming students is to explore. Don’t assume you know what’s out there,” he said. “Check things out, see what all the different major and minors there are. Don’t dash your expectations that you came in to begin with, but expand them.”

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