The University of Vermont has announced the appointment of Holger Hoock, D.Phil., as dean of the Graduate College, effective August 14, 2023. Hoock currently is the holder of the J. Carroll Amundson Chair of British History at the University of Pittsburgh, with a secondary appointment as a professor of history of art and architecture.

Hoock is an accomplished historian who earned his doctorate in modern history from the University of Oxford, UK, in 2001. He also holds an MA in history and political science and a minor in public and international law from Universität Freiburg i. Br., Germany, and is an elected fellow of the Royal Historical Society, UK. His scholarly contributions to British and American history have earned him awards such as the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Excellence in American History Book Award for Scars of Independence: America’s Violent Birth (2017), as well as numerous fellowships and visiting professorships in the U.S. and Europe.

“I am confident that Dr. Hoock will be a strong leader as the Graduate College grows enrollment and continues its efforts to attract students from around the world,” said UVM Provost and Senior Vice President Patricia Prelock. “His many scholarly and professional connections to institutions outside the U.S. will help the university build even greater global engagement.”

Hoock’s recent leadership roles at the University of Pittsburgh include his service as associate dean for graduate studies and research at the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, from 2017 to 2021. In this position, he led the development and implementation of a shared vision for the future of graduate education that prioritizes inclusivity, student-centeredness, practical outcomes, and career diversity, and the fostering of a culture of inclusive excellence in graduate student mentoring. He also spearheaded initiatives to support graduate student mental health and to promote professional development and career diversity, and he has led successful efforts to grow the recruitment and support of students from groups historically underrepresented across the disciplines.  

As associate dean, Hoock advanced initiatives to enhance the quality of graduate instructor training, mentoring, and certification across various disciplines, including online and hybrid teaching. He also played a crucial role in promoting interdisciplinary research programs, new Professional Master’s programs, and opportunities supported by philanthropic, foundation, and federal grants. At the institutional level, Hoock’s collaborative leadership helped advance the research enterprise, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, postdoctoral and faculty affairs, and community and global engagement.