Paul Youngman Named Interim Dean of the College at Washington and Lee

By News Office
March 17, 2025

Paul Youngman, associate provost for academic development and operations and professor of German, has been appointed to a one-year term as interim dean of the College at Washington and Lee University.

Youngman succeeds Chawne Kimber, who has been named vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty at Pitzer College in Claremont, California.

W&L Provost Lena Hill announced Youngman’s appointment, along with her intention to name a committee to conduct a national search for W&L’s next dean of the College in the fall.

“I am grateful to Paul for his willingness to serve as interim dean of the College,” said Hill. “As associate provost for academic development and operations, Paul oversees an expansive portfolio. His former work as department head of German, Russian, and Arabic, combined with his broad institutional knowledge, make him uniquely positioned to step into this role. W&L is fortunate to have such a talented and experienced leader to guide the College through this transitional period.”

At W&L, the dean of the College has responsibility for 21 departments and 13 interdisciplinary programs. The dean serves as chair of the Committee on Courses and Degrees and belongs to the Faculty Executive Committee. The dean reports to the provost and serves on the Provost’s Academic Council as well as the President’s Council.

A 1987 graduate of Washington and Lee, Youngman joined the university’s faculty as an associate professor of German in 2012 and was named a full professor in 2014. He chaired the department of German, Russian and Arabic from 2014 until being named Associate Provost in 2018. An advocate for the digital humanities, he was the founding chair of W&L’s Digital Humanities Working Group and has chaired the Digital Humanities Committee since 2016.

As associate provost, he serves as a member of the Provost’s leadership team and supports student research and development opportunities in the College and the Williams School. His responsibilities include oversight of the Center for International Education, the Office of the Registrar, the Office of Fellowships and Student Summer Research, and managing budgets and space allocation for the university. He directs academic advising, supervises student research opportunities, oversees faculty awards, and serves as the primary liaison for research compliance and strategic initiatives. He served as chair of the University’s Covid-19 Committee from 2020-2022.

Prior to joining Washington and Lee, he held various teaching and administrative roles at the University of North Carolina – Charlotte and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

Youngman’s research focuses on the German cultural reception of various technologies. Black Devil and Iron Angel (Catholic University Press, 2005) deals with the railway in 19th-century Germany and We are the Machine (Camden House, 2009) is an analysis of the literary reception of computing and the internet in contemporary Germany. He has also published widely on Nanoscience and technology. His most recent publication, Complexity and the Human Experience (Pan Stanford, 2014), is an edited volume featuring computer modeling applications in the humanities and social sciences.

He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and a holder of the Bronze Star with “V” device for valor in a combat zone.

“I am pleased that Paul has agreed to take on this important interim role,” said Washington and Lee President William C. Dudley. “His administrative experience as both associate provost and department head, as well as his deep commitment to the liberal arts, and the humanities in particular, make him an outstanding choice to lead the College during the coming year.”

“It is an honor to have been asked to serve as interim dean of the College,” said Youngman. “As a W&L alumnus, professor, administrator, and parent, I have a deep affection for the university and am always pleased to serve however I can. I appreciate Provost Hill’s trust and confidence in me, and I look forward to working with Dean Kimber and her excellent staff on a smooth transition.  We owe her a debt of gratitude for all she has contributed to this university, and I hope to continue to advance the good work of the College as we search for the next dean.”