UAB College of Arts and Sciences Dean Kecia Thomas, Ph.D., has announced her intention to step down as dean, effective June 30, 2026, in order to focus on her research.
Thomas became the fourth dean of the college in 2020.
“I want to thank Kecia for her leadership and many contributions to the College of Arts and Sciences and UAB during her time as dean,” said Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Janet Woodruff-Borden, Ph.D. “In addition to thoughtfully serving the students, faculty, staff and alumni of the college well, she contributed broadly to UAB’s mission by serving on several institution-wide committees and task forces in support of key priorities.”
During Thomas’ time in CAS, the college revised its curriculum, expanded its degree offerings, added faculty, and opened new, state-of-the-art buildings. More than 30 innovative undergraduate and graduate programs were launched, along with record-breaking years of research funding and groundbreaking philanthropic giving. With approximately 6,000 students, CAS is the largest college within UAB.
"I am very grateful for the privilege of having led the College of Arts and Sciences,” Thomas said. “Ultimately, the excellence of CAS is represented in its members who, regardless of what is going on around them, continue to demonstrate excellence on the stage, in the studio, in the lab and in our classrooms. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues as a faculty member to ensure we maintain our momentum.”
Thomas is a nationally recognized expert in the field of industrial-organizational psychology. An elected Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, she has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and several seminal volumes.
Thomas currently serves on Aspire Alliance’s national change team and consults for a wide variety of private and public organizations. She earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Pennsylvania State University and is an alumna of several prestigious executive leadership institutes.
An interim dean will be announced soon. A national search for the permanent dean will commence this summer.