July 8, 2025

Dear GSO Faculty and Staff,

I am pleased to share that Steven D’Hondt has been named interim dean of the Graduate School of Oceanography, effective immediately.

Steve has served as acting dean since last month, and his appointment follows a faculty nomination process during which he received overwhelming support. In addition to the formal nominations, he also received strong endorsements from both staff and students—reflecting his deep commitment to GSO, and its community and important work.

Steve is a professor of oceanography and a respected geobiologist whose research examines microbial communities living beneath the seafloor. He has been a member of the URI faculty since 1989 and served as interim dean of GSO from 2011 to 2012.

I look forward to working closely with Steve as we continue to make important investments in the Bay Campus and advance URI’s globally relevant work in oceanography and marine-related disciplines. Please join me in congratulating Steve on this appointment and offering your continued support during this transition.

Sincerely,

Barb

Barbara Wolfe
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs