dean /diːn/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: deien , from Late Latin decanus 'person in charge of ten others' , from Latin decem 'ten' ]
1 . a priest of high rank in the Christian church who is in charge of several priests or churches
2 . someone in a university who is responsible for a particular area of work:
the admissions dean
3 . American English someone with a lot of experience of a particular job or subject SYN doyen British English
dean of
Neier is the dean of American human rights activism.