Provost Sue Mattison announced Feb. 6 that Gesine Gerhard, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, will be stepping down after eight years at Drake University. Starting July 1, 2026, history professor Natalie Bayer will assume the role for one year. This one-year period will give incoming Provost Joseph Valenzano III time to head a thorough search for a new Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Mattison, via an interview email, wrote fondly of Gerhard, calling her “a wonderful colleague to me and to all of the deans,” as well as “a tireless advocate of diversity initiatives within the College.”
Mattison praised Gerhard for her effective fundraising efforts, transnational educational initiatives, and building renovations for the Fine Arts Center.
Bayer has been a member of the Drake faculty since 2010, when she was hired as an assistant professor. She now teaches history classes, including Introduction to History for first-year history students,
“[Bayer] is a thoughtful and effective leader and is respected across campus. She is clearly dedicated and committed to the mission of the College as well as to the University,” Mattison said.
Bayer previously served as the assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
“I feel incredibly honored and, honestly, very humbled to step into this role,” Bayer said in an email interview.
Bayer, like Mattison, praised Gerhard.
“She is leaving big shoes to fill! Gerhard strengthened programs, supported faculty and staff, and helped move Arts and Sciences forward in important ways,” Bayer said.
Bayer also had a message for the student body.
“Your education, your voices, and your experiences matter deeply to me. In a world that can feel uncertain, alienating, and fast-moving, the liberal arts offer something increasingly rare: spaces where people can think together, listen across differences and divides, and stay connected even when they don’t always agree,” Bayer said. “Please remember that my door will be open to you.”
Editor’s note: Gerhard did not respond to requests for an interview by the time of publication.
