Provost Martha Pollack has appointed an advisory committee to search for a new dean of the School of Social Work. The search process already has begun.

Lawrence Root, professor of social work and director of the Office of Global Activities, SSW, is chairing the committee that has been charged with conducting a broad search and presenting a slate of recommended candidates.

In an email to faculty and staff at the school, Pollack wrote that Dean Laura Lein would step down June 30, 2016, after more than seven years of service.

Additional members of the search committee include:

• Tonya Allen, a U-M alumna, and president and CEO of the Skillman Foundation in Detroit.

• Deborah Loewenberg Ball, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, William H. Payne Collegiate Professor of Education, dean and professor of education, School of Education.

• Ruth E. Dunkle, Wilbur J. Cohen Collegiate Professor of Social Work, professor of social work and associate dean for faculty and academic affairs, SSW.

• Susan R. Himle, director of development, SSW.

• Brian E. Perron, associate professor of social work, SSW.

• Trina R. Shanks, associate professor of social work, SSW; and faculty associate, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research.

• Sean Michael Smith, Master of Social Work student, SSW.

• Karen M. Staller, associate professor of social work, SSW.

• Robert J. Taylor, Sheila Field Collegiate Professor of Social Work, professor of social work, SSW; and faculty associate, ISR.

• Elizabeth H. Voshel, clinical associate professor of social work; and director of the Field Instruction Program, SSW.

• Maria V. Wathen, doctoral student, SSW.

In her February email, Pollack praised Lein’s “outstanding service to the school’s core mission of teaching, research, innovation, collaboration and service.”

“During her tenure, Dean Lein has moved the school forward in exciting ways. By focusing on community change, poverty and program evaluation she has promoted important aspects of social work education.”

Pollack noted that under Lein’s leadership SSW recruited exceptional faculty, increased the number of applications and improved selectivity at the MSW level.

To nominate prospective candidates or ask questions of the committee chair, send an email to ssw-chair-dsac@umich.edu. For more information about the school, go to ssw.umich.edu.