The University of New Hampshire has named Ashby Kinch vice provost and dean of the Graduate School, effective July 8, 2024. Kinch will succeed Cari Moorhead, who is retiring as dean of the Graduate School after serving in the role since 2019.
Kinch comes to UNH from the University of Montana. He joined the faculty there in 2003 as an assistant professor of English and became full professor in 2013 with research foci on sub-fields in medieval studies, contemporary lyric poetry and neuroscience. His graduate administrative and leadership experience at Montana is extensive, culminating in his appointment as dean of the Graduate School in 2021. Prior to that, he had served as chair of the faculty senate graduate council, associate dean of the school, institutional lead of the Mental Health Montana Initiative and director of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program.
In 2021, the University of Montana and Ashby were recognized at the national level by the Council of Graduate Schools, winning the Award for Innovation in Promoting Success in Graduate Education.
Student advocacy has long been an area of focus for Kinch. He worked actively with the Graduate and Professional Student Association at Montana, formed the new Graduate Student Research Council, and helped develop the Indigenous Graduate Student Association, the latter two of which the University of Montana Graduate School now funds.??
Kinch earned his B.A.,?summa cum laude, in English and comparative literary studies at Occidental College, and a Ph.D. in English language and literature at the University of Michigan. He has received numerous honors, fellowships, scholarly, and teaching awards throughout his career.
Until Kinch begins at UNH July 8, Will Clyde, associate dean of the Graduate School, will serve as interim dean from April 12 to July 5.
