Mario L. Small has been appointed dean of the Social Sciences Division for a five-year term, which takes effect on July 1. Currently professor of sociology and chair of that department, Small, who joined the faculty in 2006, is recognized as a leading sociologist of his generation. His research focuses on the creation of community and social capital in urban spaces.  In a joint announcement, President Robert J. Zimmer and Provost Thomas F. Rosenbaum wrote that they were seeking a scholar and leader who would work with faculty to define the Division’s intellectual and educational direction, while building support for the Division. “This demanded a dean with outstanding scholarly credentials, who was a collaborative leader for the faculty, and who would work with other deans, the provost, and the president to help build and fulfill the highest aspirations of the University. In appointing Mario to this position, we are confident in his ability to be such a leader.” An elected advisory committee of SSD faculty recommended Small for the post. The president and provost also praised John Mark Hansen, the Charles L. Hutchinson Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science, who is stepping down after two five-year terms as dean, for his exceptional service. “Mark has shaped the Division, appointing more than half of its current faculty while dean, and has helped transform the educational experience for graduate students and undergraduates alike,” they wrote. “As professor, chair, dean, and deputy provost, Mark has been emblematic of the values of the University of Chicago.”