Welcoming a New Dean to Social & Behavioral Sciences

Newly appointed dean of the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences (CSBS) Julie Rich holds a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford in geography with an emphasis on paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climates. What she’s found at Weber is a climate that’s perfectly suited for her focus on teaching and community connections.

From the moment she stepped foot on Weber State’s campus as a first-year student “decades ago,” Rich said she’s been committed to the university. Her mother worked in Weber State housing; her father helped install the first seats at Stewart Stadium. “There is a lot of Rich blood, sweat and tears at Weber State,” said Rich, who worked as interim dean before beginning her work as dean during the summer of 2021.

As a member of the Weber State faculty since 1991, Rich has emphasized teaching and field work. Her research and writing focus on arid environments and environmental change.

CSBS is home to the departments of sociology and anthropology; criminal justice; geography, environment and sustainability; history; political science and philosophy; psychological science; and social work and gerontology. The college is expanding with new certificate programs in tele-mental health, crisis intervention and geospatial analysis; an associate’s degree in social and behavioral sciences; and a Master of Social Work.

In addition to her role as dean, Rich will continue to advance Weber State’s Global Community Engaged Learning (GCEL) program, which undertakes projects to help alleviate poverty in developing nations.

“All of the challenges we face in the world deal with societal issues,” Rich said. “How did we become so polarized? Why is the suicide rate so high in Utah? How can we live more sustainably? These big problems we deal with day in and day out are going to be resolved in part by social scientists, people who understand the way individuals think and respond and know how policy is created. The importance of what we teach and learn in this college is critical.”