Provost appoints O’Brien dean of Arts and Science

Michael J. O'Brien

Michael J. O'Brien leads the College of Arts and Science as its new dean, effective July 1, 2006. MU Provost Brian Foster announced the appointment of O'Brien, who replaces Dean Richard Schwartz. Schwarz, who has been A&S dean since 1998, stepped down to devote his time to writing and the teaching of writing. He is an MU professor of English and the author of 11 books. His latest novel The Last Voice You Hear appeared in June.

"As dean of the largest college at MU, Mike O’Brien will bring to the position a commitment to the University, to the college and to his colleagues," Foster said. "He has broad support across campus. I have confidence that Mike will move the College of Arts and Science forward."

O’Brien came to MU in 1980 as an assistant professor of anthropology and has served as associate dean of the College of Arts and Science since 1986. He also is professor of anthropology, director of the Museum of Anthropology and senior research investigator at the MU Research Reactor.

While at MU, O’Brien has encouraged students to act as partners in the research process. He has sought to protect archaeological artifacts and encourage public interest in academic fields. As director of the Museum of Anthropology, he encouraged public involvement in archaeology and joined with the St. Louis District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build the Museum Support Center on campus. The center provides safe housing for 100 million archaeological artifacts in the University’s possession.

"I am humbled by the enormity of the job facing me, but I also have been lucky enough to serve under two previous deans—Dick Schwartz and Larry Clark—who taught me what it means to be the dean of such a great college," O’Brien said. "I also know that the college has a tremendous faculty and staff and that greatly simplifies things for me."

O’Brien’s research focuses on evolutionary theory in archaeology, and he has published several hundred articles and written or edited 24 books. Among other successes, he received national attention for a Science article that detailed the discovery of some of the oldest shoes ever found in the New World in Callaway County, Missouri.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Rice University in 1972 and his doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin in 1977.

Links:

Michael J. O'Brien
College of Arts and Science
Department of Anthropology
Museum of Anthropology