Dr. Rashna Richards, professor of English and chair of media studies at Rhodes College, has been promoted to dean for faculty reviews and assessment effective July 1, 2021. She has served as director for faculty reviews since 2019 as part of the Office of Academic Affairs’ leadership teams.
Richards also has served on Rhodes’ Pandemic Response Academic Implementation team, as a faculty advisor for Culture of Consent, and as a member of the Tenure and Promotion Committee as well as other search and steering committees.
As dean for faculty reviews and assessment, Richards will oversee the faculty evaluation and review process; conduct workshops for tenure and promotion candidates; oversee early leaves and sabbaticals; coordinate the external review of programs and departments; and assist the provost in developing a strategic vision for academic assessment at Rhodes.
“Having Rashna in this important position will aid in our ongoing efforts to support faculty throughout their careers at Rhodes. We are excited to have her as part of the academic affairs team,” says Dr. Katherine Clay Bassard, provost and vice president for academic affairs, on how this role contributes to academic affair’s ongoing efforts to support faculty.
Richards’ teaching and research interests include American film and television, critical theory, and transnational cultural studies. She has published various articles and reviews and is the author of three books: Cinematic TV: Serial Drama Goes to the Movies; For the Love of Cinema: Teaching Our Passion in and Outside the Classroom, a co-edited volume with David T. Johnson; and Cinematic Flashes: Cinephilia and Classical Hollywood.
“It is an honor to serve as dean for faculty reviews and assessment,” says Richards. “I am thrilled at the opportunity to build on the work I’ve done as director to promote faculty excellence at Rhodes.”
Richards joined the Rhodes faculty in 2008. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Narsee Monjee College in India; a master’s degree in English from both the University of Mumbai in India and West Virginia University; and a doctorate in English (film and media studies) from the University of Florida.