Professor Jo Anne Powell-Coffman has formally accepted the position of Chair of the Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology retroactive to January 1, 2013. Dr. Powell-Coffman had been interim chair of the department since July 1, 2011, when the previous chair, Dr. Martin Spalding, became interim Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies for the College of Liberal Arts and Science (LAS). Dr. Spalding, accepted the position of Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies for the College of Liberal Arts and Science effective January 1, 2013.