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Beth Kochly serves as the interim dean of Mills College at Northeastern University and as a professor of chemistry. Kochly joined Mills College in 2008 as a faculty member and has held many and varied faculty leadership roles. Her training as a scientist has instilled in her a strong work ethic, a sharp attention to detail, an analytical approach to problem solving, and the aptitude to persevere through challenge.

As interim dean, Kochly leads the college in its academic mission to facilitate transformative learning and research. She oversees educational and research activities, including faculty, academic programming, and strategic implementation of the university’s academic plan.

Prior to becoming interim dean, Kochly served as associate provost for curriculum and academic resources. In this role she worked with faculty and staff in Academic Affairs to cultivate trust, uphold shared governance, launch academic initiatives, foster curricular innovation, improve academic processes and organization, increase cross-departmental collaboration, ensure equitable and responsible distribution of resources, and support student success. She also has worked with other leadership team members to support the Mills campus in navigating health and safety guidelines while teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kochly is a physical organic chemist whose research explores reaction mechanisms and reactive intermediates in ionic liquids. She directs the Russell Women in Science Leadership Program, and has trained and mentored numerous undergraduate student researchers in projects related to solvolysis reactions in ionic liquids.

Kochly holds a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of California, Davis. Kochly is a proud alumna of the HERS Leadership Institute and the ACE Leadership Academy, and is an active member of the American Chemical Society.