Deans
Guiding Our University
Our deans lead the academic experiences at our schools and colleges through strong principles and values. Diverse in personal history and unified in aspirations, our deans help determine the strategic initiatives and purpose-based goals that influence research and scholarship at our University. Their direction helps us to achieve our objectives in experiential learning, diversity and sustainability.
Meet our deans below—and visit their schools and colleges to learn about what they're doing to support our efforts on campus and in our communities.
Meet the Deans
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Vivek Choudhury, dean of the Daniels College of Business
Dean Choudhury came to the University of Denver from the George Washington University School of Business (GWSB), where he had been serving most recently as associate dean for strategic initiatives and professor of information systems and technology management. Prior to GWSB, Choudhury spent more than a decade at the University of Cincinnati’s Carl H. Lindner School of Business. Dean Choudhury’s research interests include management of offshored/outsourced IT projects, trust in electronic commerce, and knowledge management. He is widely published and has received numerous awards for his teaching.
Choudhury earned his master’s in business administration from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his Ph.D. in Management (Information Systems) from the University of California, Los Angeles. He studied accounting as an undergraduate at India’s University of Calcutta.
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Rhonda Gonzales, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Dr. Rhonda M. Gonzales is dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and professor of history at the University of Denver. Her areas of research and teaching expertise include African and African Diaspora history, specifically the history of East Africa and the early Atlantic slave trade to Mexico.
After completing her Ph.D. at the University of California at Los Angeles, Dr. Gonzales began her academic career at Macalester College in Minnesota before moving to the University of Texas system. She has been PI or co-PI on grants totaling more than $11 million to support student success, research and justice initiatives. She is an advocate for the advancement of women and staff professionals and is deeply committed to the success of women of color within the history profession.
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Andrei Kutateladze, dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Dean of the Division of Natural Sciences & Mathematics since 2012, and with the University since 1995, Dr. Andrei Kutateladze has over 140 peer-reviewed papers and five patents to his name. Dedicated to innovation in his field, Dr. Kutateladze has been a member of sub-committee on Photochemistry of the International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry since 2003. He is Distinguished Scholar and also holds DU's highest academic distinction: the John Evans Professorship. His research laboratory develops novel methods for synthesis of complex therapeutic agents tested by the National Cancer Institute.
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Michael Levine-Clark, dean of University Libraries
Michael Levine-Clark is the dean of University Libraries, where he oversees library collections, services, and spaces to ensure all DU students can access the academic resources they need. Levine-Clark supports our efforts in designing and developing knowledge to enhance our support systems and the visibility of DU research. He serves on a variety of national and international publisher and vendor library advisory boards. Levine-Clark also writes and speaks regularly on trends in academic library collection development practices.
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Frederick "Fritz" Mayer, dean of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies
Frederick ‘Fritz’ Mayer, Ph.D., is the dean of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. Dean Mayer's research interests include international trade and economic globalization and the role of storytelling in politics and collective action. He has published two single-author books, four educational publications, and numerous articles and chapters. He is affiliated with the American Political Science Association, the International Studies Association, and the Association of Public Policy and Management. Prior to DU, Dean Mayer served as professor of public policy, political science and environment; associate dean; director of the Center for Political Leadership, Innovation and Service; and director of the Program on Global Policy and Governance at the Terry Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.
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Michael McGuire, dean of University College
Michael McGuire, dean of the University College, has been a member of the DU family since 1993. He previously served as interim dean, when he brought together a board of leaders from both within and outside the University to develop a strategic plan for University College. Under his leadership, University College has achieved national rankings in the top 50 for online programming, and has become a leader in instructional design and support. McGuire has spent two decades in the service of adult learners, and continues to advocate for educational innovation to better meet their evolving needs.
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Amanda Moore McBride, dean of the Graduate School of Social Work
Amanda Moore McBride is the Morris Endowed Dean and Professor of our Graduate School of Social Work. She is internationally recognized for her expertise in civic and community engagement. With nearly 100 publications to her name, her work promotes civic inclusion through education and policy, the role and potential of community engagement in higher education, and social innovation and entrepreneurship.
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Michelle Sabick, dean of the Daniel F. Ritchie School of Engineering & Computer Science
Dr. Michelle Sabick joined the University of Denver as Dean of the Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science in March 2021. She brings extensive experience from her prior role as dean of Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology at Saint Louis University. Prior to that role, she was chair of the department of Biomedical Engineering at Saint Louis University. Dean Sabick began her academic career at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho, where she co-founded the Center for Orthopaedic and Biomechanics Research and served as chair of the department of mechanical and biomedical engineering for three years.
Dean Sabick’s research areas are orthopedic biomechanics and sports medicine. Her primary focus is on how highly ballistic human movements affect the joints of the upper extremity. She is also the past-president of the American Society of Biomechanics
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Bruce Smith, dean of the Sturm College of Law
Bruce Smith is the 20th dean of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, having served in that role since July 2016. Before entering the legal academy, he practiced in the areas of intellectual property and sports law, representing the NFL, NBA and NHL, among other clients. Dean Smith is also a renowned scholar of the history of Anglo-American criminal procedure, having published a book and numerous articles on the subject. He serves on several educational, civic and corporate boards.
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Shelly Smith-Acuña, dean of the Graduate School of Professional Psychology
Shelly Smith-Acuña is dean of the Graduate School of Professional Psychology, where she’s served as a faculty member for 25 years. Prior to becoming dean, she held the position of associate dean, director of the clinical doctoral program and director of training. Her work focuses on couple and family therapy, with an emphasis on gender, culture and multigenerational issues. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, the National Councils of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology, and the Colorado Psychological Association, and she also serves on several University councils.
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Bruce Uhrmacher, interim dean of the Morgridge College of Education
Dr. Uhrmacher received his PhD from Stanford University. He served as President of the American Association For Teaching and Curriculum and was honored with the University of Denver Distinguished Teaching Award. Dr. Uhrmacher has served as the department chair of Educational Research, Policy, and Practice and as Coordinator of Curriculum and Instruction. He was also the co-editor of the Curriculum and Teaching Dialogue and book review editor of the International Journal of Leadership in Education. Dr. Uhrmacher currently serves as the faculty advisor for the Institute for Creative Teaching. His research interests include the study of qualitative research, the research method of Criticism and Connoisseurship, alternative school settings, and curriculum theory and practice. His latest co-authored books include, Lesson Planning with Purpose: Five Approaches to Curriculum Design; Using Educational Criticism and Connoisseurship for Qualitative Research; and Beyond the One Room School. Dr. Uhrmacher is a St. Louis Cardinals fan and is a music aficionado of bluegrass, rock, jazz, and especially western swing music.