Drake University is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Natalie Bayer as the dean of the College of Arts & Sciences for a one-year term. Bayer, a professor of history and seasoned administrator, will succeed Dean Gesine Gerhard, who is stepping down after eight years at the end of the academic year. During Bayer’s one-year term, the University will conduct a national search to identify the College’s next permanent dean.
“Professor Bayer has demonstrated deep and steady commitment to student, staff, and faculty success,” said Drake University Provost Sue Mattison. “She is recognized and respected across campus for her thoughtful leadership and the ability to navigate difficult situations equitably and transparently. We are truly grateful to have her lead the College during this important transition.”
A Distinguished Scholar and Leader
An active researcher, Bayer’s recent work includes co-authoring Initiating the Millennium: The Avignon Society and Illuminism in Europe (Oxford University Press, 2020). In 2026, she is slated to release both a Russian-language edition of that work and a new monograph, Brotherhood and Fatherland: Freemasonry and Enlightenment in Eighteenth-Century Russia.
In addition to her status as a respected scholar of European and Russian history, Bayer holds significant administrative experience within the College, having served as Associate Dean for Student Affairs from 2018 to 2024.
“I am honored to serve the College in this capacity,” said Bayer. “Having worked as a teacher, scholar, and administrator at Drake since 2010, I look forward to supporting our faculty and students as we continue our tradition of excellence in the liberal arts.”
Honoring Dean Gesine Gerhard
The appointment of Bayer will follow the departure of Dean Gesine Gerhard, who has led the College since 2019. Under her dedicated leadership, the College grew stronger in its global thinking and intercultural learning. She was instrumental in the development of Drake’s first dedicated international dual-degree program, a partnership with Qingdao University in China, and the new data analytics and artificial intelligence program that was recently launched in Panama. Dean Gerhard has also been crucial to building relationships with donors, which has resulted in numerous new endowed professorships.
“We are grateful for Dean Gerhard’s steadfast leadership and her passionate advocacy for a liberal arts education,” said Mattison. “Her contributions have prepared the College to thrive in the years to come.”