I write to share that Thomas A. Lewis, dean of the Graduate School, will step down from his role at Brown on July 31, 2025, to join Cornell University as Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School. Known to many as Tal, he will depart Brown after more than 17 years of exemplary service as a faculty member and administrator, having made a lasting impact on graduate education through his thoughtful leadership, collaborative spirit and deep commitment to students.

Since his appointment as interim dean in 2022 and then dean in 2023, Tal has led the Graduate School during a period of meaningful progress. Under his leadership, the University has bolstered support structures for doctoral and MFA students across more than 50 programs, aligning academic excellence with robust student support and financial planning. Tal’s vision has been grounded in the understanding that graduate students play an essential role in the life of the University — both as scholars and as teachers — and his work has focused on ensuring their academic, professional and personal success.

Tal strengthened collaborative relationships across the University, building strong partnerships with faculty in academic units, student organizations and, importantly, at the School of Professional Studies, which oversees Brown’s portfolio of more than 30 early-career master’s programs spanning all disciplines. He cultivated a constructive and positive working relationship with the graduate student union, grounded in a shared commitment to student well-being and success. During his leadership, applications to Brown’s doctoral programs increased by 40% over three years, while admissions became more selective and the yield on offers improved. 

A cornerstone of his deanship has been the advancement of recommendations from the Task Force on Doctoral Education, which he chaired prior to becoming dean. Tal has championed efforts to enhance advising systems, prepare graduate students for diverse career paths and launch initiatives to improve the student experience. Specific initiatives included requiring all graduate programs to formalize advising expectations and handbooks, and the launch of PhD360, a framework that promotes holistic professional development across six areas of impact. Tal has also prioritized inclusion and equity, implementing programs such as the Mae Williamson Simmons Fellowship program, which provides community building and individualized support for incoming Ph.D. students with a focus on those from underrepresented backgrounds. He has worked to expand access and support for students from historically underrepresented groups and to ensure that the structures of graduate education reflect Brown’s values of diversity and community.

In addition, Tal has led efforts to improve the graduate program review process, manage enrollment growth strategically, and extend support for students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout, he has been a tireless advocate for graduate education and a visible contributor to the intellectual life of the University through his continued involvement in the Department of Religious Studies and interdisciplinary areas such as the Cogut Institute for the Humanities.

A proud Brown alumnus, Tal earned his A.B. in religious studies in 1990 before pursuing a Ph.D. at Stanford. He returned to Brown in 2007 as a faculty member in religious studies, where he taught courses and served as both director of undergraduate studies and director of graduate studies. He served as associate dean of academic affairs in the Graduate School from 2016 to 2022, as well as co-deputy dean. A distinguished scholar in religious ethics and the philosophy of religion in the modern West, Tal has published three books and numerous articles, and held fellowships at institutions including Princeton University. 

Tal’s connection to Brown has always been deeply personal. He has often spoken of his admiration for the intellectual curiosity that defines the Brown community and the sense of purpose that binds its members. That perspective has shaped his leadership and left a mark on graduate education across the University. We will greatly miss Tal’s clarity of vision, warmth and steady leadership. Please join me in expressing our deep gratitude for his many contributions and in wishing him continued success in his new role at Cornell, where he will coordinate graduate education, aligning it with broader academic goals and overseeing 80 advanced degree programs across more than a dozen schools and colleges.

We will announce plans for interim leadership and the launch of a search for the next dean of the Graduate School in the coming weeks.

Sincerely,

Francis J. Doyle III

Provost