Reappointment of Martial Hebert as Dean of the School of Computer Science

Dear Members of the Carnegie Mellon Community:

I am delighted to share that Martial Hebert has been reappointed to a second term as dean of the School of Computer Science (SCS). Dean Hebert has been a member of the Carnegie Mellon community for 40 years and was initially appointed as SCS’s dean in 2019.

This reappointment follows a thorough review completed by an internal ad hoc evaluation committee, led by co-chairs Carl Kingsford, Herbert A. Simon Professor of Computer Science, and Nina Balcan, Cadence Design Systems Professor of Computer Science. Nine community members, including students, faculty and staff, also served on the committee, as well as Bill Sanders, the Dr. William D. and Nancy W. Strecker Dean of the College of Engineering.

As part of its review, the committee engaged with faculty, staff, students and alumni of both SCS and the broader CMU community. They conducted 70 interviews and administered a survey completed by 205 SCS constituents. Through their conversations, they affirmed the community’s enthusiastic support for Dean Hebert’s reappointment.

The committee highlighted Dean Hebert’s ability to listen, learn and work collaboratively within SCS and across the university. They cited his leadership in the construction of the new R.K. Mellon Hall of Sciences as well as other capital project efforts at Hazelwood. In his first term, Dean Hebert supported the launch of new undergraduate majors, including those in human-computer interaction and robotics, and shepherded positive results in the school’s transition to a multiple-major college.

The committee's recommendation for Dean Hebert's reappointment echoes community feedback that he is a tireless champion for SCS both internally and externally, a strong and respected advocate for research, and skilled at engaging with industry and donors for partnership and support. Under Dean Hebert’s leadership, SCS has maintained its top ranking in computer science and continues to be an industry leader in AI education and research.  

I am grateful to the committee for their thorough review and to everyone in the CMU community who provided feedback throughout the process. It is clear that Dean Hebert is someone who is connected with his community, furthers the school’s values and is committed to maintaining SCS’s standards of excellence. I am delighted to see him lead SCS as it continues to educate the next generation of innovative computer scientists. 

Sincerely, 

James H. Garrett Jr.
Provost and Chief Academic Officer