UCI Names New Dean of Humanities

A University of Utah scholar whose wide-ranging research has covered James Joyce and women’s travel narratives has been named dean of UC Irvine’s School of Humanities.

Karen Lawrence was selected from 100 applicants after two nationwide searches to replace Spencer Olin, a history professor who stepped down last year to resume teaching and research after five years in the post.

Lawrence, 48, was chosen over five finalists because of her prominence in a crowded field of Joyce scholars and her professed mission to articulate the relevance of humanities in an increasingly technological and science-oriented world, officials said. She will head UCI’s third-largest school, with about 1,700 students and 154 faculty members.

Lawrence, a professor at Utah since 1978 and chair of the English department for five years, earned her master’s degree at Tufts University and her doctorate at Columbia University.

Executive Vice Chancellor Sidney Golub said two searches were required because preferred candidates often had spouses reluctant to give up successful careers.

That won’t be a problem for Lawrence, he said, because her husband, Dr. Peter Lawrence, a vascular surgeon, has accepted a faculty position at the UCI College of Medicine.