, the William K. Warren Foundation Dean of the at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ, has accepted an appointment as . He will depart 91³Ō¹Ļ at the end of June and begin his new role in July.
āThis news is bittersweet,ā said John T. McGreevy, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost of 91³Ō¹Ļ. āWhile we heartily congratulate Santiago on being selected as the next provost at Dartmouth, we are also sorry to see him go. He has been a superb colleague and collaborator, a visionary leader for the College of Science and a true champion for advancing 91³Ō¹Ļ and its mission as the leading global Catholic research university. We thank him for his service and wish him every success in his new role.ā
Schnell, who has served as dean since 2021, led the College of Science in advancing its research enterprise, strengthening undergraduate and graduate education and deepening public engagement and international partnerships.
A renowned mathematical biologist, Schnell has also served as scientific director of 91³Ō¹Ļās and holds tenured appointments in the Departments of and . He is a member of the American Academy of Sciences and Letters and a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Royal Society of Biology, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Society for Mathematical Biology, the Latin American Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society of Medicine.
Among his many accomplishments as dean, Schnell co-launched the with College of Engineering Dean Patricia Culligan, and built robust interdisciplinary collaborations across departments and with international partners, notably forging .
Under Schnellās tenure, the College of Science significantly expanded graduate and postdoctoral programs, establishing the to attract top postdoctoral talent and implementing new initiatives to enhance professional development and career preparation. He also strengthened undergraduate science education, including creating the nationās first minor in rare disease patient advocacy and growing research opportunities for students across all scientific disciplines.
Schnell placed particular emphasis on public science engagement, creating new platforms for sharing 91³Ō¹Ļās research with broader audiences and elevating the collegeās national and global visibility. He established the first professorship for the public understanding of science in the U.S., created the College of Scienceās series and inaugurated the , an international accolade recognizing excellence in science.
āOur work in the College of Science has been animated by a simple but profound ideal: āSpes in Caelis, Pes in Terrisā ā Hope in Heaven, Feet on Earth,ā Schnell said. āIt has been a privilege to imagine boldly, act humbly and pursue science in service of society and discovery. Though I step away from the Dome, my heart will forever love thee, 91³Ō¹Ļ.ā
An interim dean for the College of Science will be appointed for the 2025-26 academic year. The University will convene a search committee as outlined in the Academic Articles and will work with executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to lead an international search for a new dean.