New Arts and Social Sciences Dean
Professor Robbie Goh has been appointed as the new Dean of NUS Arts and Social Sciences (FASS). Prof Goh, who is from the Department of English Language and Literature, will take over from Professor Brenda Yeoh from 1 January 2017 as the Faculty’s 17th Dean in its 87-year history.
Prof Yeoh, who is Professor (Provost’s Chair) in the Department of Geography, as well as the Research Leader of the Asian Migration Cluster at the Asia Research Institute at NUS, has served as FASS Dean since January 2010. During her tenure, the Faculty expanded its range of multidisciplinary education offerings with new programmes in Environmental Studies and Global Studies, as well as successfully revised its curriculum to strengthen, broaden and deepen the training of its students.
Prof Yeoh will be appointed as Vice Provost (Graduate Education) at NUS, where she will be responsible for matters relating to Masters and PhD programmes, including funding, curriculum, strategy and policy. She will assume her new role in the Office of the Provost from 1 January 2017.
“My tenure as Dean has been richly rewarding, and I am grateful for the steadfast support I received from my colleagues and students,” said Prof Yeoh. “I am also pleased to pass the baton on to the very capable Prof Robbie Goh, an outstanding leader, scholar and colleague, who will be able to take the Faculty to greater heights.”
NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan expressed his appreciation to Prof Yeoh for “her outstanding leadership of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences”. He said, “During her tenure as Dean, the Faculty has nurtured and recruited world-class faculty and attracted some of the brightest minds in Singapore and beyond. She has further raised FASS’ high reputation and stature in Singapore and the world, for the quality of its education and research and its application to address major societal challenges. We look forward to Brenda’s continued contributions to the University in her new role as Vice Provost (Graduate Education).
“The new Dean, Prof Robbie Goh, brings with him a wealth of teaching and research experience, and familiar ties with the Faculty and University. Robbie is an accomplished educator and researcher — I am confident that he will build upon the good work of Prof Yeoh, and steer the Faculty forward to even higher levels of excellence and contribution.”
An NUS alumnus, Prof Robbie Goh has been a faculty member at the University since 1988 where he started out as a Senior Tutor with the Department of English Language and Literature. He has served in various administrative roles, including as Vice Dean of FASS from 2010 to 2015, and before that as the Head of the Department of English Language and Literature from 2004 to 2010. As Vice Dean, Prof Goh had played a vital role in helping the Faculty deepen its collaboration with the New York-based Tisch School of the Arts for its minor in film production.
Prof Goh said he was honoured to be given the task to lead the vibrant community of students and faculty members at FASS.
“We have a strong team of colleagues in the Dean’s Office and leading the various departments, and together I am confident we will be able to propel the Faculty ahead while taking on the challenges of a rapidly changing society, workplace and global order,” he added.
“The Faculty’s tradition of teaching excellence, and its comprehensive multidisciplinary programme, have equipped our graduates with important skills like writing and communication, and critical thinking. We will continue to excel in these areas, while raising our students’ preparedness for the workplace with new emphases such as industry internships and alumni mentorships. We will also work on elevating the Faculty’s strong profile in Asia research, while at the same time enhancing our engagement with society through research and education that will add significant value to Singapore.”
