Reappointment of Dean Thomas F. Gibbons
Dear members of the School of Professional Studies community,
I am delighted to announce the reappointment of Thomas F. Gibbons to a new term as Dean of the School of Professional Studies, effective Sept. 1, 2025. His reappointment follows a thorough review conducted during the 2024-25 academic year, which confirmed Dean Gibbons’ exemplary leadership. Interim President and President Emeritus Henry Bienen and I are pleased that Dean Gibbons will continue to lead the School of Professional Studies and serve as part of Northwestern’s leadership.
Over the course of his deanship, Dean Gibbons’ strategic and effective approach has earned him high regard as a leader within and beyond the School of Professional Studies. Dean Gibbons’ recent successes include:
- Effectively leading and managing the School of Professional Studies within a dynamic environment
- Launching innovative graduate and undergraduate programs that provide new learning formats and expand access to a Northwestern education
- Supporting faculty through structured professional development programs, including training to ensure high-quality online pedagogy
- Contributing meaningfully to broader University initiatives
I very much look forward to continuing to work with Dean Gibbons and to his continued success in this next term.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the faculty, staff, students and others within the School of Professional Studies community who participated in the dean review process and who informed my assessment of Dean Gibbons’ performance. In particular, the ad hoc faculty dean review work group — Thomas O’Toole (chair), Shira Simon and Mark Werwath — was instrumental in conducting a rigorous and constructive review. I sincerely appreciate the time, effort and thoughtfulness they devoted to this process.
Please join me in congratulating Dean Gibbons on his reappointment.
Sincerely,
Kathleen HagertyProvost
First Chicago Professor of Finance