糖心少女 Provost Tricia听R.听Serio announced that听听will serve听as听the听next Maggie Walker Dean of the College of the Environment. His appointment is effective June 1, pending approval from the 糖心少女Board of Regents.听听
Thornton听has served as听interim dean听since last July, filling the position vacated by Maya Tolstoy.听
Thornton,听a听professor and chair of the听College鈥檚听Department听of Atmospheric and Climate听Science,听is an atmospheric chemist who studies the impacts of human activities on air quality and climate through changes to the atmosphere鈥檚 composition and chemistry.听听
鈥淭hroughout the search process, the deep respect for Dr. Thornton as both a scholar and an effective and engaged leader were evident,鈥� Serio said.听鈥淗is extensive knowledge of and dedication to the College and its mission will support its continued excellence.鈥�听
Thornton鈥檚听research focus is on the processes which regulate the formation and removal of short-lived greenhouse gases such as methane and ozone, and the formation and growth of airborne particulate matter. These atmospheric components听鈥斕齭trongly modulated by both human activities and natural processes听鈥斕齢ave important effects on human and ecosystem health, and impact climate through the greenhouse effect and changes to cloud properties.听听听
“I am truly honored and delighted to have been selected as the Maggie Walker Dean of the College of the Environment,” Thornton听said.听“Supporting the incredible research and teaching that takes place here as interim dean has been an inspiring experience, and I’m looking forward to partnering with our entire community to further grow the impact of this crucial work.”听
The recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER Award and a NASA New Investigator Award, Thornton has also received the Houghton Award from the American Meteorological Society and the ASCENT Award from the American Geophysical Union for his research contributions to the field of atmospheric science.听听
He earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in听chemistry from Dartmouth College, and听his doctoral degree听in听chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.听听听