Dan Gezelter, senior associate dean for education and undergraduate programs in the College of Science at the University of Notre Dame, has been named chair of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.

Gezelter replaces Steven Corcelli, who was named interim dean of the College of Science after former William K. Warren Foundation Dean Santiago Schnell accepted a position as Provost of Dartmouth College.

Gezelter became an associate dean in the College of Science in 2020 and was promoted to senior associate dean in 2023. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and philosophy from Duke University and a doctorate in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. He joined the Notre Dame faculty in 1999 after completing a postdoctoral research position at Columbia University.

His research is in theoretical and computational chemistry, with a particular interest in molecular dynamics — notably, chemical dynamics at the ice/water interface. His laboratory develops and tests new theoretical methods that advance computer simulations as a tool for understanding chemistry.

He also has received undergraduate teaching awards from the College of Science and earned a provost’s award for teaching excellence in the core curriculum.

"Professor Gezelter's steady demeanor, thoughtful judgment, collaborative spirit, unimpeachable character, and genuine commitment to service leadership make him exceptionally well-positioned to lead the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry during this next chapter," Corcelli said.

Holly Goodson, professor and associate chair in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Science Director of the Glynn Family Honors Program, will replace Gezelter, serving as interim associate dean for education and undergraduate programs in the College of Science.

Goodson holds a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from Princeton University and a doctorate in biochemistry from Stanford. She joined the faculty at the University of Notre Dame in 2000 after a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. Goodson became a full professor in 2014.

Her interdisciplinary research uses biochemistry, molecular biology, and computational biology to address cell biological and evolutionary questions. She has earned awards for undergraduate teaching and was named a Fellow of the American Society of Cell Biology in 2023.

"Professor Goodson's diplomatic approach and institutional thinking will be assets in the coming year while we set the stage for a search for a more permanent Associate Dean of Education and Undergraduate Programs," Corcelli said.

Both Gezelter and Goodson will start in their new roles on July 1, 2025.

The faculty and students in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame explore the atomic and molecular fundamentals of nature in all its detail. Research in the department, which is strongly committed to creating a welcoming environment for all, spans the broad range of chemistry, biochemistry, and their interdisciplinary interfaces.

Priorities include advancing fundamental knowledge through excellence in research and educating and training the next generation of chemists and biochemists.

Originally published by Deanna Csomo Ferrell at science.nd.edu on June 20, 2025.