Building on a tradition of excellence
Allan Punzalan Isaac (left) and Jorge Marcone
Professors Allan Punzalan Isaac and Jorge Marcone have been named Associate Deans in the Division of Humanities. Allan, a professor of American Studies and English, and Jorge, a professor of Spanish and Portuguese and Comparative Literature, will report to Dean of Humanities Rebecca Walkowitz.
“Excellence in the humanities has been a hallmark of Rutgers since the university’s earliest days, and our commitment to uphold and build on that tradition is unwavering,” Executive Dean Peter March said.
Read Dean March's full announcement below.
June 23, 2021
Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce that professors Allan Punzalan Isaac and Jorge Marcone have been named Associate Deans in the Division of Humanities, School of Arts and Sciences.
Allan, a professor of American studies and English, and Jorge, a professor of Spanish and Portuguese and comparative literature, will report to Dean of Humanities Rebecca Walkowitz.
These new halftime positions will allow the division to increase its mentoring and promoting of faculty throughout its 18 departments and programs. In addition, the associate deans will lead the expansion of initiatives aimed at broadening the reach of humanities in our fast-changing, technology-driven and increasingly diverse society.
Allan will oversee Global Asias, which includes Asian American and transnational Asian studies. Jorge will head up programs in public humanities, including digital humanities and new efforts to support graduate career paths focused on public engagement.
Excellence in the humanities has been a hallmark of Rutgers since the university’s earliest days, and our commitment to uphold and build on that tradition is unwavering. The new positions are a terrific step forward and I am confident that Allan and Jorge, working with Rebecca, will make significant, lasting contributions to the vitality and strength of humanities at Rutgers.
Jorge, a Rutgers professor since 1991, specializes in the history of environmentalism, Hispanic literature and culture, and the representation of Amazonia in literature and the visual arts. His teaching and research also focus on the environmental humanities—an emerging field that involves the study of beliefs, values, and culture to understand and address environmental conflict. He received his Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin. Jorge has served as graduate program director for the Program in Comparative Literature and seminar leader at the Center for Cultural Analysis.
Allan, a Rutgers professor since 2008, specializes in Asian American and comparative race studies, examining issues around migration, postcolonialism, gender and sexuality, and the Philippines and its diaspora. His first book, American Tropics: Articulating Filipino America, was the recipient of the Association for Asian American Studies Cultural Studies Book Award. He received his Ph.D. in comparative literature from New York University. Allan served as chair of the Department of American Studies and is co-director of the Rutgers Global Asias Initiative.
Please join me in congratulating Allan and Jorge and welcoming them to their new leadership positions in the School of Arts and Sciences.
Sincerely,
Peter March