Teresa Raczek, Ph. D., Named Interim Associate Dean for Student Engagement and Success at RCHSS

KENNESAW, Ga. (Jun 6, 2022) — Dean Catherine Kaukinen announced Teresa Raczek, Ph.D., will be taking the position of interim associate dean for Student Engagement and Success for the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences (RCHSS) beginning July 1, 2022. Originally planned as a permanent engagement, after careful consideration the dean and the committee have decided to delay this search as the college works collaboratively with the university to identify a set of central priorities and targeted strategies for student engagement and success initiatives ahead of naming a permanent associate dean. The goal in delaying this search is to clearly define the portfolio for this position to align with these priorities and ensure the long-term success of the permanent leader. During the summer and into the fall the college will be working with a new student success dashboard that will shape this work.

“I want to thank Dr. Kadian Callahan, assistant dean for Faculty and Student Success in the College of Science and Mathematics, and the search committee who led a national search this year,” Kaukinen said. “I also want to thank Dr. Raczek for her commitment to the college and her willingness to work with us in this interim role.”

While in the interim associate dean position, Dr. Raczek will work closely with the dean and chairs/directors to continue to deliver support and strategic direction to faculty and staff in the ongoing mission to elevate student engagement and success. “I am very happy and excited to help the college advance our core mission during the next year while we set priorities and create strategies that allow us to prepare our students for greater success,” said Raczek. “I am also looking forward to developing new skills and expertise that I can take back to the Department of Geography and Anthropology at the conclusion of this assignment,” she added.

Dr. Raczek is the current chair of the Department of Geography and Anthropology and Professor of Anthropology at Kennesaw State University. As an archaeologist who focuses on ancient India, she has emphasized collaborative and participatory methods and the role of heritage in the contemporary world. Throughout her career she has prioritized student engagement by leading education abroad trips, supervising undergraduate research, and coordinating internships. Her work has been supported by the William J. Fulbright Foundation, the American Philosophical Society, and the National Geographic Society. Dr. Raczek obtained her PhD in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania, MA in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago, and BA in History from Barnard College. Dr. Raczek joined KSU in the fall of 2011. Her success at RCHSS includes having established three new research labs, doubled credit hours within three years, and secured the department’s first three endowed scholarships. She has published extensively to include multiple peer-reviewed edited volumes and articles.