Thomas to become Dean of Arts and Sciences at UAB

In her 27-year UGA career, Thomas has distinguished herself as an outstanding classroom teacher, graduate student mentor, and researcher. Her work on the psychology of workplace diversity has gained national attention, and she is an elected fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race.

Thomas has also held several significant leadership positions at UGA, including interim Director of the Institute of African American Studies, Director of the Franklin College Office of Inclusion and Diversity Leadership, Associate Dean, and most recently, Senior Associate Dean. In this latter role she has managed faculty affairs issues for the Franklin College, and served as the divisional associate dean for the social and behavioral sciences programs. She has also developed and directed the diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies for the Franklin College, the largest, most academically diverse college at the University of Georgia.

“Dr. Thomas has been an instrumental colleague and leader at the UGA and the Franklin College,” said Alan Dorsey, dean of the Franklin College. “This announcement is bittersweet—Dr. Thomas’ appointment is richly deserved, and I am confident she will continue her excellent work at UAB, but I will certainly miss her thoughtful and insightful advice and counsel, her fierce advocacy for our students, and her quick wit and good cheer. I congratulate Dr. Thomas on this next phase of her outstanding career.”

“Although I am excited about this new opportunity, I know that I will greatly miss my colleagues in Old College and across campus,” Thomas said. “We have always been unified in our unwavering commitment to students, and I am comforted in knowing that Franklin will continue to be a model of inclusive excellence across campus and continue to lead the institution in its commitment to teaching, scholarship and service.”

The Franklin College will announce plans for appointing a new associate dean in the coming weeks.