University Fills Two High-Level Positions

Philosophy professor Sarah-Jane Leslie *07 became dean of the Graduate School Jan. 1, and Brent Colburn was named vice president for communications and public affairs, effective Feb. 1.

Leslie, who started teaching in 2006, became a full professor in 2013. She has served as vice dean for faculty development, director of the linguistics program, and founding director of the Program in Cognitive Science. 

Colburn has served as vice president of communications since 2016 for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a philanthropic effort of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and pediatrician Priscilla Chan. He was national communications director for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign and held several senior communications and public-affairs positions in the Obama administration. In his new position, Colburn will be an ex officio member of PAW’s advisory board.