Nukhet Sandal has been appointed the new dean of the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, effective July 1. Currently, she is the associate dean for student success and strategic partnership and interim associate vice president for community impact at Ohio University.
Nukhet’s research has focused on conflict, peace, religion, politics, minority rights and Turkish politics. She was also editor-in-chief of the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies for five years and has written three books. In a sit-down with Baruch students before she obtained her role, Sandal explained how important student communication is for her.
“It’s really important to hear your perspectives and your challenges so that we can make sure that even if you have to suffer through certain challenges, [the] next generation doesn’t,” she said.
Despite having an established position at Ohio University, Sandal feels that New York is the place for her and her family to be.
“I am a New Yorker in spirit,” she said. “I hear 16 languages in 10 minutes, and it just makes me so happy.”
In 2021, Baruch students came from over 155 countries and spoke over 100 languages. In 2024, The New York Times reported that about 75% of Baruch students are people of color.
Sandal applied for the dean position at Baruch because she wanted to be in a diverse atmosphere — the melting pot of New York City.
She compared the role to a novelist and explained that it involves thinking beyond the questions students ask and focusing more on what they need.
This includes the needs that they may not yet be aware of, and applying those through industry or leadership experience. Sandal plans to work closely with students and become a friendly face on campus. She wants students to know who she is, and not just be a random name in the yearbook.
Sandal is also open to having coffee chats with students so that they can speak about challenges they face at school, as well as allowing students to have access to her availability so that they can schedule one-on-one chats.
Connecting current students and alumni is another goal for Sandal. She strives to focus on students’ ability to receive real-world knowledge on future endeavors and for them to feel prepared for graduation. With student engagement at the forefront of Sandal’s position, she hopes to create better opportunities for Weissman students, with their help.
