August 20, 2021
Sarah Reznikoff to serve as Graduate School interim associate dean
Following an internal search, Sarah Reznikoff has been appointed interim associate dean of the Graduate School. Her appointment in the Graduate School begins Aug. 22.
Reznikoff is a professor in the mathematics department and has served as the department's director of graduate studies for seven years. She has also served on Faculty Senate, Graduate Council and several other university, college and department committees.
Reznikoff's research is in the field of operator algebras, a field developed as a mathematical framework for the study of quantum mechanics. Reznikoff's recent work, which has focused on C*-algebras defined from combinatorial structures such as directed graphs, has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the Simons Foundation. She has given plenary talks on this work at conferences in Spain, Germany, Brazil, Canada and in the U.S. Reznikoff organized and conducted the 2014 Great Plains Operator Theory Symposium at K-State as well as conferences held elsewhere. She has been a group leader and workshop organizer in the Women in Operator Algebras Network and is a mentor in the Operator Algebras Mentoring Network.
As director of graduate studies, Reznikoff drove the formation of the mathematics department's American Mathematical Society chapter and Directed Reading Program, as well as K-State's chapter of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. She serves the Math Alliance, a national organization to support students from underrepresented groups pursuing doctoral degrees in the mathematical sciences, in various capacities. Her other leadership activity in the larger community includes a term on the executive committee of the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute.
Reznikoff earned her bachelor's degree and doctorate, both in mathematics, from University of California, Berkeley. She was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and a visiting assistant professor at Reed College and at Smith College. She has been on faculty at Kansas State University since 2008.
As interim associate dean, Reznikoff will provide leadership in graduate program assessment and reviews; facilitate new program development and course and curriculum approval; develop and implement a coordinated data analysis and reporting process; and support the dean in other areas of relevance to graduate education. She will also represent the Graduate School on university councils and committees.