Dean of Fordham Arts and Sciences
Dr. Jessica Lang recently marked her first year anniversary at Fordham University as the inaugural dean of Fordham Arts and Sciences. A champion of the liberal arts, she embodies the values and ideals of Jesuit education and is deeply committed to providing students with a broad, transformative educational experience.
Before joining Fordham, Dr. Lang served as dean of the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences at Baruch College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. During her tenure, she strengthened the liberal arts curriculum, launched new majors and graduate programs, and expanded experiential learning opportunities for students.
Dr. Lang earned her BA, MA, and Ph.D. in English and American Literature. An interdisciplinary scholar specializing in early American fiction and Jewish American and Holocaust literature, she was a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University before joining the English Department at Baruch. She lives in Manhattan with her family, loves running in New York City parks, is an avid reader, and (according to her kids) is a really good home chef.