Leadership
Bárbara M. Brizuela
Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Professor of Education
Bárbara Brizuela became the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in January 2022. Before this she served as a Dean of Academic Affairs for Arts and Sciences from 2014 to 2021 and as an Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion for Arts and Sciences from 2019 to 2021. Dean Brizuela began her career at Tufts in 2001 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Education. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 2007 and to Professor in 2015. She is also affiliated with the interdisciplinary Cognitive Studies PhD program. She served as Chair of her department from 2009-2012, and as Director of the STEM Education program from 2009-2014.
Dean Brizuela’s current research focuses on children’s learning of elementary mathematics, including algebraic reasoning and other notational aspects of mathematics, as well as mathematics teachers’ learning and professional development. Her main areas of interest are mathematics education, early childhood education, and cognitive development.
Dean Brizuela received an MA from Tufts in Education and her EdD from Harvard University. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, conference proceedings, books, and edited volumes. Her research has been published in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and she has presented her work around the world. Her research has and continues to be funded by the National Science Foundation and the Spencer Foundation, among others, and she has also been a Fulbright Scholar.
Karen Panetta
Dean of Graduate Education for the School of Engineering
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Dean Karen Panetta received a BS in Computer Engineering from Boston University, and a MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University. Her research focuses on developing efficient algorithms for simulation, modeling, signal and image processing for security and biomedical applications. Dean Panetta is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and was awarded the 2013 IEEE Award for Distinguished Ethical Practices “for exemplary contributions and leadership in developing ethics and social responsibility in students.” Her volunteer service with the IEEE has brought much collaboration and increased exposure to Tufts University. Her commitment to promoting the interests of the university is also evident in her service on the AS&E Executive Committee and as its liaison to the Trustee University Advancement Committee.
Dean Panetta is the recipient of several NASA and National Science Foundation Research Grants, including the NSF CAREER Award. As the first female electrical engineer to be given tenure in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department, Dean Panetta continues to promote the interests of women in her field. She was the worldwide director for IEEE Women in Engineering, the largest international professional organization dedicated to promoting women engineers and scientists, from 2007-2009, and served as editor-in-chief of the IEEE Women in Engineering magazine. She is the faculty adviser to the Tufts student chapters of both the Society of Women Engineers and the IEEE, and is founder of the nationally acclaimed “Nerd Girls” program that promotes the engineering disciplines to young students.
Dean Panetta has been recognized for her commitment to education with awards such as the Madeline and Henry Fischer Best Engineering Teacher Award in 2003, the IEEE Major Educational Innovation Award in 2010, and the Anita Borg Institute Women of Vision Award for Social Impact in 2011. In 2010, she received the American Association of Engineering Societies' Norm Augustine Award for communicating the excitement of engineering through outreach activities that promote careers in science and engineering, and encourage youth to improve the environment and change the lives of individuals and communities. Most notably, in 2011 President Barack Obama awarded Dean Panetta the Presidential Award for Science and Engineering Education and Mentoring.