Dr. Patrice Rankine, Dean
Professor of Classics

Phone: (804) 289-8416
Email: prankine@richmond.edu 

As Dean, Patrice serves as the head academic officer for the largest school at the University of Richmond, and represents Arts & Sciences to the University and the broader community. His role includes faculty hiring, reviews, and development; leading academic council; strategic planning and budgeting; and setting a strategic direction for A&S. He is also a Professor of Classics and an active teacher and scholar. Read his full bio.

Dr. Benjamin Broening, Associate Dean
Professor of Music

Phone: (804) 289-8418

E-mail: bbroenin@richmond.edu

Ben serves as the point of contact for academic departments and programs in Division III, the Natural and Applied Sciences. His additional responsibilities include coordinating the merit review process; overseeing the Undergraduate Research Committee; planning for equipment replacement and physical space renovations; managing the Kresge process and the Arts Initiatives. He is also a Professor of Music and an active composer. Read his full bio.

Dr. Dan Palazzolo, Interim Associate Dean
Professor of Political Science

Phone: (804) 287-6630
E-mail: dpalazzo@richmond.edu

Dan serves as the point of contact for academic departments and programs in Division II, the Humanities and Social Sciences.  His additional responsibilities include assisting with merit reviews; overseeing academic program review; and serving as liaison to interdisciplinary programs. He is also a professor of political science, whose current research looks at coalition building in Congress in an era of partisan polarization. Read his full bio.

Dr. Eric Yellin, Interim Associate Dean
Associate Professor of History

Phone: (804) 289-2430

Email: eyellin@richmond.edu

Eric serves as point of contact for academic departments and programs in Division I, Arts, Languages, and Cultures. His additional responsibilities include assisting with merit reviews; coordinating new and revised course proposals; coordinating teaching assignment projections and term and adjunct hires, overseeing the Tucker-Boatwright Festival; and administrative leadership of Concept 30, the School’s strategic planning process. He is also an Associate Professor of History, who is frequently called upon for his expertise on Woodrow Wilson's presidency. Read his full bio.

Andrea Almoite, Communications Content Coordinator

Phone: (804) 289-8868
Email: aalmoite@richmond.edu

Andrea develops strategic communications plans and messaging around the Dean’s and the School’s priorities. She tells the story of the School and its faculty, students, and alumni through feature stories, social media, electronic communications, and online content development.

Shawn Chamberlin, Academic Employment Coordinator

Phone: (804) 287-1836
Email: schamber@richmond.edu

Shawn manages all aspects of the faculty hiring process for tenure-track, term, and adjunct hires. He tracks data on faculty and manages the student evaluation process. He also serves as liaison to the Office of Human Resources and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

Cynthia Johnson, Administrative Coordinator

Cynthia provides administrative support to the Associate Deans including scheduling and calendar management. She manages several administrative processes including expense reports, furniture requests, grade changes, and project-based budgeting. She also plans School events and serves as liaison to the Catering and Events Office. 

Phone: (804) 289-8417
Email: cjohnso7@richmond.edu

Bethany Perry, Assistant to the Dean

Phone: (804) 289-8416
Email: bperry@richmond.edu

Bethany provides administrative support to the Dean. She manages the Dean’s calendar and correspondence; provides administrative support for faculty meetings and academic council; plans School events; and supports faculty searches and tenure and promotion cases.

Kirsten Petrocelli, Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives

Phone: (804) 289-8926
Email: kirsten.petrocelli@richmond.edu

Kirsten manages internal operations for the Dean’s Office, ensuring that the office is efficient and accessible to the campus community. She also supports the Dean in executing strategic priorities for the School, including A&S NEXT, the Student Symposium, and Concept 30.

Robert Plymale, Grants and Research Specialist

Phone: (804) 289-8367
Email: rplymale@richmond.edu

Robert manages all aspects of student and faculty research funding for Arts & Sciences. He also serves as liaison to the central Grants Office and plays an active role on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

Surabhi Vittal, Director of Financial Planning and Budget

Phone: (804) 287-6587

Email: svittal@richmond.edu

Surabhi handles all aspects of finance and budget for the School, including short term and long range financial planning and projections.