SOUTH HADLEY – Professor Jon Western has been named Mount Holyoke College’s next vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty.
Western, a professor of international studies at the college, will assume his new role on July 1. He will succeed Sonya Stephens, who will begin a three-year term as acting president of the college on the same day, according to a release.
Western, of Northampton, is also director of the Five College International Relations Program.
He was selected for his new post after an internal search led by faculty and staff.
As dean of faculty, Western will oversee a budget of $54 million, act as chief academic officer and be responsible for faculty hiring.
“The role of this position is to be an advocate for the intellectual and educational mission of the college and to support the faculty and staff to be outstanding scholars and inspired teachers,” Western said in a release.
Western joined Mount Holyoke in 2000 as a Five College assistant professor. He has taught courses on international human rights theory and advocacy, U.S. foreign policy, international security and political violence.
He has previously worked at the National Security Institute, the Dayton Upgrade Project at the United States Institute of Peace, the army and the state department.
Western is married to Jenifer Urff, with whom he has two teenage sons. He is also lead mentor of the Northampton Robotics Team of Northampton High School and Smith Agricultural and Vocational High School.