After a national search and consideration of candidates across the country, Tulane University appointed Mollye Demosthenidy as the new dean of Newcomb-Tulane College this summer. Through her experience working at Tulane and in the city of New Orleans, Demosthenidy said she is prepared and thrilled to serve as a leader in this new role.  

“I am looking forward to working with all our schools to expand opportunities for interdisciplinary study, both inside and outside the classroom,” Demosthenidy said in an email. “That might be cross-school programs, new certificates or experience pathways centered around big issues. There are so many possibilities, and that makes this role really exciting.” 

Demosthenidy is a Louisiana native, born in Alexandria, and received her Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University and Juris Doctorate along with a Master of Health Administration from Tulane in 2007. Before her faculty work at Tulane, she practiced law at two New Orleans firms with a focus in healthcare litigation.  

Demosthenidy said her work in different programs at Tulane each prepared her for the role of NTC dean. She served as a professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management in the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She said her real-world experience and academic interests translated into her class curriculums. 

With her membership in the NTC academic integrity committee and role as a faculty principal for the College Scholars Program, along with a Residential Faculty Mentor in Butler Hall, Demosthenidy said she is already involved in the programs she is going to lead. 

When reflecting on her past roles and experiences, Demosthenidy said that she has navigated her career shifts with an open mind and took advantage of each opportunity to grow both professionally and personally.  

Demosthenidy said, “Engaging with students has always been my favorite part of the job,” and while she already misses her time in the classroom, “When the opportunity to consider the role of Dean presented itself, I pursued it!”

Since working at Tulane, Dean Demosthenidy has received numerous awards in teaching. She has been honored with the Mortar Board Teaching Award from the Newcomb Institute, the Dean E. Elaine Boston Award for Outstanding Long-Term Commitment to Students and twice with the Student Government Association Teaching Excellence Award. She is also a five-time recipient of the Outstanding Undergraduate Public Health Teaching Award, as well as a member of the Delta Omega Honor Society. 

In this role, Demosthenidy said she wants to help build meaningful connections between students and faculty, which is something she said Newcomb-Tulane has a strong history of providing.  

“My goal is that we cultivate opportunities for students and then support them as they navigate their own academic journey,” Demosthenidy said. 

Demosthenidy said she is a proud Tulanian, with an undeniable spirit for the university and its students. She is raising her family close to campus and met her husband in the Tulane Bookstore in law school, and they have not left New Orleans since. 

“Ultimately, we want students to be a force for good in their communities and beyond!” Demosthenidy said in the email. “New Orleans is such a special place, so I encourage students to explore as much as possible while they’re here.”