‘Vigil’ by acclaimed author George Saunders kicks off the new Campus Reading Program
May 13, 2026
Adrian Randolph, dean of the Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and Henry Wade Rogers Professor of the Humanities, will step down at the conclusion of the 2026-27 academic year, Provost Kathleen Hagerty announced today. Randolph has led Northwestern University’s largest, oldest and most comprehensive academic division since 2015.
“It has been and continues to be both a pleasure and an honor to serve as dean,” Randolph said. “Working alongside our exceptional faculty, students, staff, alumni and supporters has been the experience of a lifetime. The College is defined by a deep commitment to discovery, teaching and intellectual engagement, and I am grateful to have been part of its continued growth and success.”
The University will launch a search for Randolph’s successor at a later date, Hagerty said.
“Adrian Randolph is a remarkable leader who has fostered rigorous academic pursuit and the highest standards of teaching excellence at Weinberg,” Hagerty said. “During his tenure, he has consistently guided his many constituents with intellectual prowess, creativity and wit. Adrian is both a deep thinker and an effectual doer, and Northwestern is better because of his many contributions.”
Comprising roughly 60 departments and interdisciplinary programs, the College spans fields in the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, and is home to internationally renowned faculty at the forefront of their fields.
Randolph has dedicated considerable attention to attracting, supporting and retaining outstanding teachers and scholars. During his tenure, he has hired 274 continuing faculty members, representing 41% of the College’s current faculty body. He personally reviewed every appointment, reappointment, tenure and promotion file, as well as annual reviews from department chairs and program directors, gaining a firsthand appreciation for the breadth and impact of the College’s scholarly and teaching achievements.
Through fundraising efforts, Randolph oversaw the establishment of several institutes and centers and helped create 14 endowed chairs designed to recognize and support faculty members who are among the top in their disciplines.
“I am confident that my successor will be inspired, as I continue to be, by the extraordinary accomplishments of our faculty, students and staff,” Randolph said. “The opportunities ahead for Weinberg College are tremendous, and I look forward to seeing the College continue to thrive in the years to come.”
One of Randolph’s highest priorities as dean was convening a committee to review and modernize Weinberg College’s degree requirements, the first comprehensive revision in decades. Guided by a commitment to helping students develop their capacity to observe, critique, reflect and express themselves effectively and persuasively, the updated curriculum debuted in 2023. Grounded in the liberal arts tradition, the curriculum balances intellectual breadth with individual choice and prepares students to navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
Four new majors have been introduced during Randolph’s tenure: Asian American Studies, Global Health Studies, Data Science, and Environmental Policy and Culture. In addition, under Randolph’s leadership, the College established four new minors that expanded opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and academic exploration.
“Adrian Randolph is an exceptional leader whose blend of skill, drive and compassion earned the respect of faculty, students and staff across the College and throughout the University,” Interim President and President Emeritus Henry Bienen said. “His contributions to Northwestern across a diverse breadth of disciplines will resonate through our research and teaching activities for years to come.”
Randolph was a first-generation college student who benefited from financial aid. As dean, he has been a strong advocate for student access and success. He championed the College’s Arch Scholars Program, which supports first-generation and lower-income students through academic preparation, research opportunities, mentoring and other forms of support. He also expanded opportunities for undergraduate research and experiential learning and strengthened connections between students and alumni through career exploration, professional development programs and networking initiatives.
An art historian and prolific scholar, Randolph specializes in medieval and Renaissance Italy. His academic achievements include election as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 2022.
His scholarship emphasizes the integration of visual analysis with insights from fields including science, literature, social history and gender studies. Throughout his academic career, he has built connections across disciplinary boundaries and fostered conversations on topics ranging from humor and race to Native American art, science and visualization.
Before joining Northwestern, Randolph served as associate dean of the faculty for the arts and humanities at Dartmouth College. He also chaired Dartmouth’s Department of Art History and directed the Leslie Center for the Humanities.
