Meet a man who enjoys ribs, the color red and ballroom dancing. He is easy to arrange a meeting with; he inquires about a student’s enjoyment of DU and his or her academic experience.

No, the mystery person is not a resident assistant, but in fact George Potts, interim dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS). Many first-year students have no idea what a dean would be like but after a short time with Potts adjectives that should be attributed to Potts are personable, smart and funny.

Potts has overseen some exciting changes at DU, including the new Writing Initiative has the potential for DU to be recognized as having “one of the best writing programs in the country.”

Somewhat unique to DU, the focus of the writing program is more on rhetoric than writing technique. In addition, there is a great push so that every first-year student has at least one small class with a regular professor.

Much of these opportunities are possible because of the Marsico Initiative whose funds are used to improve education in the arts and humanities.

“The opportunities outside the classroom truly make DU exceptional,” said Potts. “If you just go to classes, you may as well save on tuition and go somewhere else. It’s the one-on-one interaction with faculty that really makes DU special.”

As interim dean of AHSS, Potts handles everything from faculty to budget to first-year seminars and core classes. He oversees scheduling in AHSS and around 200 faculty and 18 departments.

Potts feels that at his level of administration his work has a concrete and tangible outcome.

“You can do things to help faculty accomplish their mission,” said Potts. “I am in a position to make a difference.”

However, as much as he enjoys his current position he misses the time in the classroom and with his research; but found it “is hard to give the attention to class that is needed.”

Before he arrived at DU, Potts, who grew up in Minneapolis, attended Hamlin College, went to Indiana University, and taught at Dartmouth College before arriving at DU where he was named chair of the Psychology Department one month after his arrival. He’s been teaching for 30 years and specializes in cognitive psychology.

When Gregg Kvistad, previous dean of AHSS, was appointed provost after Robert Coombe became chancellor. Potts was appointed interim dean of AHSS last year and again this year while a national search for the position of dean is currently ongoing.

When he’s not busy at DU, you can find Potts and his wife competing in ballroom dancing.