Dr. Janina Lewis Appointed Director of Faculty Advancement
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Janina Lewis as Director of Faculty Advancement. Dr. Lewis will assist the dean with implementation of the School of Dentistry promotion and tenure processes and serve as a resource to department chairs and faculty members to support faculty advancement. She will provide administrative support for the school’s promotion and tenure system. Specific duties include:
• Collaborate with department chairs to assist new faculty members with setting their goals that will promote their development and promotion and tenure and monitor pre-review and mandated review schedules
• Provide assistance to faculty members and department chairs with the administrative aspects of School of Dentistry promotion and tenure process
• Work with the promotion and tenure committee to ensure that all candidates’ documents are correctly prepared for review by providing administrative pre-reviews of documents
• Lead the revision process for School of Dentistry Promotion and Tenure Guidelines and educate the faculty on the promotion and tenure process
• Work with department chairs and the dean on implementation of faculty workplan processes and administer the FARES system
• Assist department chairs and the dean with needs assessment of faculty development in teaching, scholarship, service to support faculty advancement
Dr. Janina Lewis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology (OCMB) at VCU School of Dentistry. Her main research interests are anaerobic pathogens implicated in development and progression of periodontal disease. Dr. Lewis graduated with MS degree from the University of Gdansk, Poland and then obtained her PhD degree in Microbiology and Immunology from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1997. She then continued to perform her postdoctoral research on anaerobic bacteria in the same department prior to transitioning to the newly formed Philips Institute of OCMB in 2000. In 2002, she joined the faculty ranks of the Philips Institute of OCMB and in 2008 was promoted to the rank of an Associate Professor.
I have been concerned that our school lacked an administrator to support this important function for our faculty. Department chairs have the primary responsibility for advancement of their faculty, however the dean’s office should provide support at the school level for both chairs and the faculty. While serving as t chair of the school promotion and tenure committee in the past year, Dr. Lewis has provided leadership and improved organization of our processes. I am very pleased we are back on track and look forward to working with Dr. Lewis in her new role. Dr. Lewis will report to me for her service as the Director of Faculty Advancement and continue her faculty responsibilities in the Department of Oral & Craniofacial Molecular Biology.
This new appointment is designed to support the goals of the VCU Quest for Distinction and the School of Dentistry’s strategic plan.
VCU Quest Support: Theme1, D; Theme II, C; Theme III, C; Theme IV, A
Goal 1.4
The School of Dentistry will recruit, develop and retain faculty who are inspired and qualified to meet the emerging needs of dental education
Objective 1.4.1
To ensure that current faculty members are fully prepared to teach the knowledge, skills and values defined in the new curriculum
Objective 1.4.2
To recruit and retain the best forward-thinking and qualified new faculty