New College Dean Tromp named Woman of the Year

The dean of the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences at ASU’s West campus has been named the Arizona Women in Higher Education Woman of the Year for 2016.

Marlene Tromp (above right), vice provost of the West campus and professor of English and women and gender studies, has been recognized by leaders in education as improving the climate and professional environment for women in education, identifying and developing leadership for women, and connecting and supporting women in higher education.

During her time at the West campus, she has set up a network for the female deans at ASU and proposed a women’s leadership group to ASU President Michael M. Crow, who then created that group. She has built a mentoring program for students in her college, where peer and professional mentors support students before they even arrive on campus as freshmen. The college is also in the process of building a mentoring program for high school and community colleges in the region, similar to the program for New College students.

New College also puts on yearly leadership conferences. This past year, Tromp and New College collaborated with community colleges to focus on women of color in leadership positions.

As the president of the North American Victorian Studies Association, Tromp co-edited a book several years ago that is gaining attention and popularity amid the current presidential campaign. The book, titled “Fear, Loathing and Victorian Xenophobia,” explores the little-studied human fear of the foreign. In a recent interview with ASU Now, she draws parallels between the Victorian era of globalization and the current political climate in the United States and in Europe.

In the coming years, Tromp will also oversee the establishment of new academic programs and growth at the West campus. Though ASU offers one university in many places, each campus offers its own distinct feel. The West campus is reminiscent of a smaller liberal-arts college, but offers all of the amenities of a large public school — world-class libraries, varied dining options and top-tier sports.

The Arizona Women in Higher Education organization is the Arizona state chapter of the national American Council on Education Women’s Network.