Following a comprehensive national search, UNC Greensboro has appointed Dr. Kelly Joyce as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, effective August 1, 2025. Dr. Joyce, a professor of sociology, served in various administrative roles at Drexel University, including Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Founding Director of the university’s Center for Science, Technology, and Society. She also served as program director for the Science, Technology, and Society program and the Ethics Education in Science and Engineering program at the National Science Foundation (NSF).
“The College of Arts and Sciences stands at the heart of our University’s mission, and I am confident that Dr. Kelly Joyce will provide the leadership needed to advance its vital role,” Provost Alan Boyette said. “Her deep commitment to student success, supporting faculty and staff, fostering innovation, and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration will empower the College to thrive in the years ahead. She brings an impressive track record of scholarship and academic leadership, and we are excited to see her take the reins and help shape the future of our university.”
Professor Joyce studies the social, cultural, and political dimensions of medical technology innovation. Her research is situated at the crossroads of medical sociology and science and technology studies. Joyce’s research on the ethics of algorithms, big data, and smart textiles has been funded by awards from the NSF and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She is the author of the award-winning book, “Magnetic Appeal: MRI and the Myth of Transparency” (Cornell University Press, 2008) and co-editor of “Technogenarians: Studying Health and Illness through an Aging, Science, and Technology Lens“. She received the NSF’s Director’s Award for Collaborative Integration for contributing to the education of ethical scientists, interagency collaboration, and extraordinary efforts in integrating ethical expertise with scientific knowledge in 2011. Dr. Joyce earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Brown University and a PhD in Sociology from Boston College.
“It is an honor to lead Arts and Sciences at a university that is an engine of social mobility for North Carolina and is committed to serving the surrounding communities,” Dr. Joyce said. “I am looking forward to getting to know faculty, staff, and students, and making their fantastic work visible to others at UNCG and the broader public. I hope to support new cross-disciplinary research initiatives and expand paid research opportunities for undergraduate students.”
As we prepare to welcome Dr. Joyce, we also express our gratitude to Dr. Amy Adamson for serving as the Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences since April of 2024; and to the search committee, led by Dean Debra Barksdale, for leading a robust and successful search.
