UVP Directory

Dr. Bridget Trogden is the Dean for Undergraduate Education & Academic Student Services, with a position as Professor in the School of Education. Dean Trogden has been a principal investigator (PI) or co-PI on multiple grant-funded initiatives to improve undergraduate education, particularly for general education curricula, STEM educational excellence, and improving equitable degree pipelines in US higher ed. She writes on undergraduate education topics ranging from liberal arts education to professional skill learning outcomes to faculty development and is a frequent speaker and consultant on pedagogical design.

Dean Trogden received her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Illinois, where her research focused on studying the estrogen receptor and its roles in breast cancer, hormone replacement therapy, and osteoporosis. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in music performance from Transylvania University in Kentucky.

She previously worked at Mercer University in Georgia as a professor, first-year seminar director, and engaged learning QEP director and at Clemson University in South Carolina as an associate dean in undergraduate education and professor in the department of engineering and science education. She was a Georgia Governor's Teaching Fellow in 2013, received he 2021 Standout faculty Award from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for her work in improving the faculty role in nonpartisan voter engagement, and was honored with the 2023 Order of the Tiger Award from Clemson’s Undergraduate Student Senate for her dedication to the institutional values of honesty, integrity and respect.

Anne Katherine Jones is Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Professor in the School of Molecular Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University. As vice provost, she collaborates with units across the university to provide leadership for university-wide curriculum and student success projects. Ongoing projects include redefinition of the ASU general education requirements, partnering with the US Naval Community College to offer degrees for active-duty service members, expanding and improving the curricular offerings of ASU to prepare the broadest possible collection of students for life and career success, and student success initiatives to realize ASU’s mission and goals.

Before joining the provost’s office in 2020, as Associate Director of the School of Molecular Sciences, Dr. Jones led ASU’s undergraduate and graduate academic programs in chemistry and biochemistry. Jones co-led the development and launch of the first online biochemistry degree in the United States, which grew to serve more than 1,000 students in its first five years, expanding access to high quality STEM education. Jones is also active in developing a Bridge Program to minimize equity gaps and support progression of a more representative groups of students from undergraduate degrees to doctorates in chemical sciences.

As Professor of Chemistry, Jones has published widely in the fields of electrocatalysis and biological electron transfer. Her work has been supported by public and private agencies including the US National Science Foundation, the US Department of Energy, the US Department of Defense, the American Chemical Society and the Keck Foundation.

Dr. Jones earned her D. Phil. in chemistry from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and NSF Graduate Fellow. She has received such prizes as the Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship, the AFOSR and DOE Early Career Awards, and the ASU Founder’s Day and Zebulon Pearce Teaching Awards.

As the University’s Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, Chase Bringardner works with campus leaders and units across the university to advance the Auburn's academic mission and support students' success. In addition to providing oversight for a range of services such as academic advising and support, career services, accessibility, university writing, international programs, and the registrar, Bringardner provides leadership for processes related to curricular and program proposals, core curriculum, and academic honesty. He also serves as the provost liaison to the Honors College and the Biggio Center.

During Bringardner’s time as department chair for the Department of Theatre & Dance in the College of Liberal Arts from 2017-2023, the department grew its number of majors, received the highest possible accreditation award from it’s national accrediting body (National Association of Schools of Theatre), and won both the Department Excellence Award from the Teaching Effectiveness Committee of the University Senate and the Provost’s Excellence in Assessment Award, all while maintaining a thriving, annual six show season through the challenges of global pandemics. Bringardner was also selected as an SEC Provost Leadership Fellow in 2021 & 2022 and successfully co-founded and led the Department Heads and Chairs Leadership group.

In addition to his administrative appointments, Bringardner is a professor in the Department of Theatre & Dance, the immediate past-president of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE), and a national advocate for arts education. His research interests include regional identity construction and intersections of race, gender, and class in popular performance. He has contributed articles and reviews to publications such as Theatre Topics, Theatre Journal, Studies in Musical Theatre, Theatre Symposium, and Southern Theatre as well as publishing chapters on musical theatre and popular entertainments in multiple volumes including The Oxford Handbook of the American Musical and The Cambridge Companion to American Theatre since 1945. He also works extensively as a director and dramaturg, recently directing Into the Woods here at the Gogue Performing Arts Center and The Thanksgiving Play at the Telfair Peet Theatre.

Dr. Rishi Sriram (Rish-ee Sree-Rom) was appointed vice provost for undergraduate education in June of 2026. 

Dr. Sriram spent eight years as a higher education and student affairs administrator before beginning his current role as a faculty member. As Assistant Dean for Student Learning & Engagement, he played a primary role in the development of residential colleges and living-learning programs at Baylor, as well as the establishment of a faculty-in-residence program. His administrative work won him a NASPA Excellence Award (Gold Honoree) and a Promising Practices Award from the NASPA Student Affairs Partnering with Academic Affairs Knowledge Community. At Baylor, he was selected to serve on the Provost's Diversity Committee, the President's Advisory Council on Diversity, and as Chair of the Faculty-in-Residence Council. Nationally, he served on the executive team of the newly formed Residential College Society. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Azusa Pacific University in southern California.

Dr. Sriram's research interests include the development of talent, student affairs professional practice, and college student retention, engagement, achievement, and learning. His work has been published in respected journals such as the Journal of College Student Development, the Review of Higher Education, the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, and the Journal of College Student Retention. His work has also appeared in popular venues such as US News & World Report, Scientific American, and Edutopia. He currently serves as Editor of the Journal of the First-Year Experience & Students in Transition. In 2023, Dr. Sriram was named a Senior Scholar by ACPA–College Student Educators International.

Dr. Sriram speaks at conferences or consults with colleges across the United States on issues pertaining to student affairs administration, college student success, living-learning initiatives, and talent/success. His first book, Student Affairs by the Numbers (Stylus Publishing), helps student affairs professionals understand and use quantitative research and statistics in their work. He is currently working on a book about the development of talent.

Education

• MA, PhD, University of Wisconsin at Madison

Research Interests

• Russian Language

• Literature and Cultural History

• Russian/Soviet Memory Cultures

• Legacy of Soviet-era Monuments in Post-Soviet Space(s)

• Poetry and Performance in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe

• Autobiographies of the Great Russian Poets

Teaching Interests

• Great Russian Novels

• Russia and the World

• Literature and Revolution

Awards

• Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching 2007-2008

Shadle earned her doctorate in inorganic chemistry at Stanford University and held a two-year postdoctoral research fellow position at Johns Hopkins University prior to joining Boise State in 1996. She was appointed the inaugural director of the Center for Teaching and Learning in 2006, named Carnegie Idaho Professor of the Year in 2015 and recognized as a Boise State Distinguished Professor in 2017, among numerous other honors and awards.

She has authored or co-authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and has secured more than $4.5 million in external funding as principal or co-principal investigator, primarily from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health. Her accomplishments in pedagogical innovations and faculty development are too numerous to list.

Dr. Lisa Patterson Phillips serves as the Vice Provost for Community Engagement and Belonging and Tribal Liaison at Boise State University. Known for her strategic, community-centered approach, Dr. Phillips has dedicated her career to creating a sense of belonging for all members of the university community to prioritize student success and belonging.

Before joining Boise State, Dr. Phillips worked at Columbus State Community College as the Director of the Student Advocacy Center, where she championed initiatives to address students’ basic needs, enabling them to reach their academic and personal goals. Her diverse experience spans both academic and student affairs.

Dr. Phillips holds a PhD from Ohio University in Organizational Communication, a MEd from James Madison University in Counseling Psychology with a focus on Higher Education Administration, and a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication from East Stroudsburg University.

Guided by her signature strengths—Relator, Strategic, Individualization, Connectedness, and Learner—Dr. Phillips is driven by the belief that listening to and uplifting each individual’s unique experience creates a more equitable and resilient educational environment. Her work continues to inspire and support transformative pathways for students, communities, and the broader field of higher education.

Currently Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs, Dr. Sarr is involved in almost all things related to student academic experience, progress, and success at BC. She has been at Boston College since 2006, and has taught in the Woods College since 2010.

A former Fulbright Scholar, Dr Sarr spent a research year in Senegal studying women’s movements and the emergence of feminist literature. Her teaching interests include Contemporary Ethnic American Literature, West African literature and film, African retentions in the Americas, and representations of Africa in contemporary African-American literature.

Amie Grills is the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Affairs and Professor of Counseling Psychology & Applied Human Development in Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education & Human Development.

As Associate Provost, Dr. Grills serves as a central voice from the provost’s office on matters related to undergraduate education and provides leadership on core academic efforts. She collaborates closely with the provost, dean of students, academic deans, and faculty across BU’s schools and colleges to promote student engagement in high-impact practices, cross-disciplinary opportunities, and experiential learning. She oversees units including BU’s General Education Program, Kilachand Honors College, Undergraduate Advising & Student Success, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, the Educational Resource Center, and Academic Assessment. Dr. Grills chairs several core university-wide committees including Undergraduate Council and the Undergraduate Academic Programs and Policies Committee and represents undergraduate affairs as a member of the Provost’s Cabinet and as a senior leader on other major university initiatives, including the AI Development Accelerator, the Institute for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and Living our Values.

As Associate Provost, Dr. Grills’ work has centered around advising, student success, and developing innovative academic opportunities for undergraduates. She has led a transformative university-wide redesign of undergraduate advising that aligns with national best practices and expands access to holistic advising. She also launched the university’s first student success team to further efforts focused on student retention, achievement, satisfaction, and engagement with high impact practices. Dr. Grills regularly compiles and shares data with the Deans and the Provost to increase dialogue and build shared understanding of university-wide goals.

Dr. Grills develops and leads initiatives to increase consistency and equity in the student experience across the university. Her work in this area involves developing and revising academic policies across BU’s schools and colleges, ensuring they align with students’ academic needs.  She oversaw an evaluation and subsequent revision to BU’s academic integrity policies and procedures that increased clarity and provided enhanced support for faculty and students. She also manages the curricular review process for undergraduate programs at the university level, ensuring that BU’s academic offerings remain innovative, rigorous, and aligned with institutional priorities.

Dr. Grills’ efforts are both strategic and forward-thinking. Her close collaboration with the Dean of Students has advanced their shared vision of a well-integrated academic and student life experience from admission to orientation to graduation. Their work also led to the launch of the first Accommodated Testing Center at BU. Integrating a data-driven and community input approach, Dr. Grills has developed a robust assessment of BU’s general education program, ensuring that it remains responsive to student and faculty needs. Dr. Grills is also committed to organizational efficacy and efficiency, and she has spearheaded efforts to bring together previously disparate administrative units, leveraging their collective strengths to better serve students.

Before joining the Provost’s Office in 2021, Dr. Grills served as Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Associate Dean of Research in the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. In these roles, she championed faculty development and research initiatives that advanced the college’s mission. Dr. Grills is a licensed clinical psychologist who received her PhD and MS in Clinical Psychology from Virginia Tech and an AB in Psychology from Smith College.

Research Interests/Selected Publications

Monitoring the Cyanobacterial blooms in Sandusky Bay:

I collaborate with Dr. George Bullerjahn at the main campus for this project. The objective of this project is to study the seasonal quantification of Planktothrix in Sandusky Bay. A team of undergraduate students at Firelands are involved in this project and are responsible for collecting and processing water samples from the lake that are analyzed for various indicators including but not limited to chlorophyll and microcystin.

Antimicrobial activity of curcumin and catechins:

This project is done in collaboration with Dr. Subha Nagarajan. We are interested in investigating and enhancing the antimicrobial properties of natural compounds like curcumin and catechins. Our work is focused on synthesizing a new class of compounds that are polymers of the naturally occurring compounds mentioned above. The synthesized compounds are tested for stability and their efficacy as antimicrobial agents. 

Jeffrey S. Shoulson serves as Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs, with a faculty appointment in the Department of English.

Prior to coming to Brandeis, Shoulson served as Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at the University of Connecticut. Before moving into the Office of the Provost, Shoulson was UConn’s Director of the Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life and held the Doris and Simon Konover Chair in Jewish Studies. He was Professor of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages and Professor of English, and had affiliations with the Medieval Studies Program and the Middle East Studies Program. He was previously on the faculty at the University of Miami, where he also served as Director of Judaic Studies.

An internationally-recognized, award-winning scholar of early modern literature and culture, Shoulson’s research focuses on intellectual, cultural, and literary encounters between Jews and Christians in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Along with numerous articles and book chapters, his books include Milton and the Rabbis: Hellenism, Hebraism, and Christianity (Columbia UP, 2001); Hebraica Veritas? Christian Hebraists and the Study of Judaism in Early Modern Europe (U Penn P, 2004); and Fictions of Conversion: Jews, Christians, and Cultures of Change in Early Modern England (U Penn P, 2013). He is the recipient of grants and awards from the Mellon Foundation, the Fulbright-Hays Program, the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies (UPenn), and the American Academy of Jewish Research.

Shoulson served as president of the Association for Jewish Studies (2020-21) and on the executive committee of the Milton Society of America (2002-06, 2013-15). He is currently Religion Editor of “Routledge Resources Online—The Renaissance World.” He holds an AB in English Literature from Princeton University, an MPhil in Renaissance Studies from the University of Cambridge, and a PhD in English Literature from Yale University.

Nick Monk is Executive Director of the Sheridan Center. In this role he oversees all the operations of the Center and the work of its Directors. Nick provides the link between the Center and the Provost’s Office.

Formerly the inaugural Director of the Center for Transformative Teaching at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, where he served from 2019 to 2025, Nick was also a founding member of the Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning at the University of Warwick in the UK and served as its Director from 2016 to 2019. Nick was a Professor in the Department of English at Warwick, and a Courtesy Professor in the Department of English at UNL. He is Affiliated Faculty in the American Studies Department at Brown.

Nick’s first job in higher education was as a postdoctoral researcher in a joint enterprise between Warwick’s Department of English and the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford. From this relationship emerged Open-space Learning, a transdisciplinary pedagogic method focused on embodied, active and experiential learning.

As a literary scholar Nick focuses on the American Southwest. The works of Leslie Silko and the novels of Cormac McCarthy are of particular interest. Other areas in which Nick has taught and/or published are cultural literacy and communication, identity, laughter, and the use of technology to simulate face-to-face experiences in distance learning. With colleagues from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia he co-authored a book on identity and how to teach it titled Reconstructing Identity.

Nick earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Literary Studies at the University of Warwick and holds an M.A. in Literary Studies from Rutgers University.

Kate Barraclough was named as Carnegie Mellon University’s vice provost for education (VPE) in August 2024. In this role, she oversees the university’s educational programs, including the development and implementation of university-wide academic policies and procedures, new academic offerings, and curricular innovation and coordination across CMU’s schools and colleges. Barraclough partners with academic and administrative units to advance integrative learning and high-impact educational practices through the work of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholar Development and the Leonard Gelfand Center for Service Learning and Outreach, as well as the University Lecture Series and other distinctive university experiences. Under her leadership, the VPE Office develops innovative, evidence-based approaches to enhance student learning, scholarship and engagement, and tailoring programs and services to meet the diverse needs of the CMU community. 

Barraclough joined CMU’s Tepper School of Business in 2015 as the head of the school’s MBA program overseeing admissions, financial aid, student services, leadership development, and career planning and employment. From 2021 to 2024, she served as associate dean of master’s programs and teaching professor of finance, working closely with Tepper’s leadership and faculty to set the strategic direction for the school’s master’s programs and overseeing program curricula, academic policies and student success. Barraclough holds a faculty appointment at the Tepper School as a teaching professor of finance.  

Before joining CMU, Barraclough served as director of Vanderbilt University’s master’s in finance program, where she oversaw strategic leadership of the program as well as its daily operations, including admissions, curriculum, career management and alumni relations. Her career also includes work in KPMG’s Financial Advisory Services practice in Canberra, Australia, where she led budget analysis and financial models for government programs and clients. 

Barraclough earned her bachelor’s degrees in economics and commerce and a Ph.D. in finance from the Australian National University.

Dr. Brad Petitfils joined Chapman University in fall 2021 after having served as Director of Advising & Student Success at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. Prior to his time at Drexel, he was the Senior Director of Advising & Academic Success at the University of North Carolina Asheville, and Senior Director of Student Success and Institutional Research & Effectiveness at Loyola University New Orleans, where he was also the founding director of the Student Success Center and served as the institutional liaison to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. He has held positions in campus planning and assessment, institutional accreditation, curriculum development, and instructional technology.

In addition, Brad has taught interdisciplinary first-year seminar courses for over a decade and was the faculty director of Loyola's summer abroad program in Paris, France for ten years. He earned his doctorate in Curriculum Theory from Louisiana State University, and his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Loyola University New Orleans. His writing has appeared in the Journal of Curriculum and Pedagogy, Educational Philosophy and Theory, and Antistasis, and he has presented at academic conferences across the United States and in Canada.  He is the author of the book monograph Parallels and Responses to Curricular Innovation: The Possibilities of Posthumanistic Education (Routledge, 2014).

Patrick Turner has over 25 years of working in higher education, specializing in the areas of academic affairs, student support services, faculty development, curricula analytics student and persistence. Patrick serves as Associate Provost for Student Success and Innovation at Clark Atlanta University. He holds a bachelor's degree in Public Administration, a master’s degree in Human Resource Development, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership-Curriculum and Instruction.

Patrick previously held a similar post at New Mexico State University, where he collaborated with the Provost, Deans, Department Heads, Student Affairs, diversity programs, two-year colleges, and local high schools to address issues of social justice and educational access. With a research focus on the first-year experience, student retention, persistence, and academic success, his body of work investigates institutional factors that support or act as a barrier to the academic and social integration of students, particularly those from underrepresented, marginalized, and minoritized populations. Three years ago, Dr. Turner established the Men of Color Initiative at New Mexico State University which takes an asset-based approach to developing and engaging the intersecting identities of our male students.

The changing landscape of higher education requires leaders who have a comprehensive understanding of the nuanced and complex lives of a diverse population, possess the ability to navigate internal and external pressing issues, and take a student-centered approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Dr. Turner’s career has been spent working with students, faculty, staff, and institutions on integrating and operationalizing practices such as inclusive excellence, universal design learning, experiential learning, belonging & social identities, curricular complexity, and engaging a diverse population. In order to prepare students for the 21st century, institutions must reimagine and redefine the concept of student success.

Additionally, Dr. Turner is the Co-Principal Investigator (PI) on several grants through Undergraduate Education Research Universities (UERU) and APLU that analyze the impact of inclusive excellence and curricular analytics on generating equity in academic outcomes and closing the opportunity gap. Leadership services roles include membership on the Provost Council of African American Affairs, Western Land-grant Cluster for Association of Public Land Grant University (APLU), editorial board member for the Journal of Postsecondary Student Success (JPSS) at Florida State University, President of the National Organization of Student Success-Southwest chapter (NOSS) and professional coach for Complete College American (CCA) leadership academy for Predominantly Black and Historically Black Community Colleges (PBI/HBCU).

Sean Brittain began his tenure as an Associate Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Learning on June 1, 2023. He is committed to building partnerships across campus in an effort to deliver the No. 1 Student Experience. Brittain is passionate about integrating research and other creative endeavors with education. Prior to moving into this role, he served as the Department Chair of Physics and Astronomy where he has been a member of the faculty since March 2006.

Vibhuti Dave

Dean for Undergraduate Studies

Colorado School of Mines

Dr. Michael Galchinsky is the Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Affairs at Colorado State University, responsible for developing and reviewing undergraduate programs, general education, academic appeals, and undergraduate policies. Dr. Galchinsky collaborates with colleagues on innovative undergraduate credentials, student success, high-impact practices, academic advising and outreach, Honors, Army ROTC, Air Force ROTC, student learning assessment, and accreditation.

Dr. Galchinsky earned his Ph.D. in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and his B.A. in English from Northwestern University. He was an assistant professor at Millsaps College before spending 26 years at Georgia State University, working with colleagues there to improve student success. From 2022-25, he served as Georgia State’s inaugural Senior Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and its representative to the University System of Georgia’s General Education Council.

In his scholarship, Dr. Galchinsky has investigated human rights and Jewish studies. His books include The Modes of Human Rights Literature: Towards a Culture without Borders (Palgrave, 2016), Jews and Human Rights: Dancing at Three Weddings (Rowman and Littlefield, 2008), and The Origin of the Modern Jewish Woman Writer: Romance and Reform in Victorian England (Wayne State UP, 1994). Since 2009, he has been a Faculty Fellow at the Center for Cultural Sociology, Yale University.

Dr. Lee D. Baker (Cul Anth & AAAS) is the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. Dr. Baker has been a member of the faculty for 30 years with long experience in leadership as Chair of the Arts & Sciences Council, Dean of Academic Affairs and Chair of Cultural Anthropology, among others. The position’s primary mission is to provide a transformative educational experience to all undergraduates at Duke by offering academic support, research and scholarly community, and experiential engagement opportunities.

As Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs, Heather Mugg oversees and leads special initiatives to enable student success. She also guides projects related to student outcomes with the goal of improving the student experience, retention, and four-year graduation rates. Heather partners with all of the undergraduate schools on advising efforts for proactive approaches and best practices. Prior to joining the Office of Undergraduate Affairs, Heather led University Enrollment, with her main responsibilities including overseeing admission, financial aid, registrar, and student systems. She is a first-generation Emory College alumna and has a doctorate in higher education leadership policy from Vanderbilt University and master of science in human resource development from Georgia State University.

Associate Provost, Student Success

Florida A&M University

As Vice President of Academic Affairs: Student Success Operations and Integrated Planning at Florida International University, Dr. Cram provides strategic oversight across multiple divisions, including Enrollment Management, Analysis and Information Management, Student Success Operations and Strategy, Credentialing Learning, Career and Talent Development, FIU Online, and the Student-Athlete Academic Center. She also serves as Co-Executive Director of the Center for Community Impact and Public Purpose, fostering partnerships that bridge academia with local, national, and international communities.

Dr. Cram provides leadership in aligning divisional goals to the university strategic plan while cultivating partnerships across various units, programs, and external stakeholders. She is committed to intentionally designing a student experience that supports students from admission to career. Dr. Cram has over ten years of experience in developing innovative and effective student success initiatives, using data to improve student outcomes. 

Dr. Cram focuses on developing programs and partnerships designed to ensure learners have the skills they need to be successful. She provides strategic leadership for 21st Century Workforce Initiatives, including the development of industry partnerships and work-learn-earn models to promote career readiness. She also leads FIU’s student success initiatives, focusing on ensuring success for all FIU students.

Dr. Cram actively collaborates with faculty, external networks, and governmental entities to drive institutional impact at local and national levels. She represents FIU at various external associations, such as the Florida Metropolitan Consortium and the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities.

Dr. Cram serves as an affiliated faculty member in the Department of Public Policy and Affairs. She has presented her research at national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.  She earned her BA in International Affairs and Spanish and her MS in Higher Education from Florida State University. In 2017, she earned her PhD in Public Affairs from FIU. 

DeOnte T. Brown serves as the Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Florida State University, where he provides strategic leadership for the university’s undergraduate education infrastructure. A core component of the Division of Undergraduate Studies is CoreFSU which is FSU’s modern approach to liberal studies encompassing general education courses and university-wide graduation requirements. Beyond the curricular focus, Dr. Brown’s portfolio includes oversight of high‐impact practices including Honors Program, Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement, Engage 100 (First Year Experience Course Initiative), and Living Leaning Communities. Additionally, Undergraduate Studies includes units focused on providing high quality academic engagement and support to students which include the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE), Advising First, Transfer Student Services, Presidential Scholars Program, Office of National Fellowships, Office of Retention, and Student Athlete Academic Services.

Dr. Brown received a bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Central Florida, a Master of Education from Florida A&M University and a Doctor of Philosophy in learning sciences from Clemson University. Dr. Brown started at FSU as an academic success coach in 2010, eventually moving into a program coordinator position in CARE. He spent time at Clemson University, where he climbed the ranks in administration, serving as director of retention programs and later assistant dean of students before returning to FSU in 2021.

A nationally recognized leader in student success innovation, Dr. Brown’s work has focused on student success interventions with an emphasis on the experience first-generation college students, Pell-Grant recipients or students with lived experiences related to foster care or homelessness. Dr. Brown is the principal investigator (PI) or co-PI on multiple grant-funded programs supporting college access and success.

Joe O’Shea serves as the Vice President for Student Academic Success, a new role responsible for overseeing the university’s award-winning student academic success initiatives at Florida State University. Joe also serves as a postsecondary education expert for the U.S. Department of Education and co-editor of the Journal of Postsecondary Student Success. A Truman and Rhodes Scholar, he has a master’s degree in comparative social policy and a Ph.D. in education from the University of Oxford. Joe is the author of the book Gap Year: How Delaying College Changes People in Ways the World Needs, published by Johns Hopkins University Press, and Doing College Right: A Guide to Student Success, published by Columbia University’s Teachers College Press.

Keith Renshaw is the Senior Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education. Prior to beginning this role in August 2023, he served as department chair of psychology in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences from 2017–2023. Dr. Renshaw was an active member of George Mason’s Faculty Senate from 2013 to 2023, serving on the Executive Committee for many years and as Faculty Senate Chair from 2016-2019. In 2020, Dr. Renshaw led the formation and launch of the Military, Veterans, & Families Initiative at Mason, an ongoing effort to leverage the many strengths of Mason in service of the military and veteran community. 

As a professor of psychology, Dr. Renshaw specializes in anxiety, stress/trauma, and interpersonal relationships. With over 100 publications, 150 conference presentations, and $3 million in extramural funding, much of his work has focused on the experiences of service members/veterans and their families, with a recent shift in focus on scalable, culturally responsive, evidence-based mental health care.  

Dr. Renshaw has been recognized both at Mason and nationally for his teaching and mentorship, receiving Mason’s Teaching Excellence Award in 2015 and the American Psychological Association's Division of Military Psychology’s Distinguished Mentor Award in 2021. More recently, he was honored by Mason’s Alumni Association as the Faculty Member of the Year for 2023. 

In his role as Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Student Success, Steven Girardot has devoted his career to enhancing the transformative potential of higher education and supporting students in realizing its benefits at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Dr. Girardot has over 20 years of experience in leading undergraduate education. From 2011-2021, he served as the Assistant, Associate, and then Interim Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at Georgia Tech. In 2022, he was appointed as the Vice Provost (VPUE). Prior to these roles, Dr. Girardot held leadership positions in student affairs, academic success as well as the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). In all his roles, Dr. Girardot has found that his strengths are bringing people together to address challenges; creating programs and systems that support their goals; and building collaborations among stakeholders. These strengths will be particularly important as UERU continues to advance the Boyer 2030 recommendations.

Outside of Georgia Tech, he has a track record of experience in national organizations. He currently serves on the Advisory Board for the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. He served as Annual Conference Chair and then President of the North American Association of Summer Sessions (NAASS) from 2017-2021. In 2021, Dr. Girardot received the Distinguished Service Award recognizing his service and leadership. He has been an evaluator for SACSCOC, including several QEPs. In 2009, he worked with Penguin Random House to establish and serve on its higher education advisory board for common reading programs. Finally, he currently works with Rachel Holloway (UVP at Virginia Tech) to re-establish a network of UVPs from the ACC schools.

Although his academic background is in chemistry and public health, the focus of Dr. Girardot's scholarly work has been student success and transition. He regularly presents on topics and serves on panels related to student success and transition. In 2020, he and his co-presenters were recognized for Outstanding Research Presentation at the AACRAO SEM conference. In 2022, he received a Fulbright IEA fellowship for France, and he completed two of Harvard’s leadership development programs in 2013 (MDP) and 2023 (MLE).

Dr. Allison Calhoun-Brown has been appointed as vice president for student engagement and programs at Georgia State University effective July 1.

For the past 11 years, Dr. Calhoun-Brown has served as associate vice president for student success, and more recently, interim vice president for student affairs. She helped lead Georgia State’s pioneering work in deploying predictive analytics to support academic advising and helped to develop the Panther Retention Grant program—initiatives which have benefited tens of thousands of Georgia State students.

In her new role, Dr. Calhoun-Brown will lead a number of the departments formerly under Student Affairs and will continue her oversight of the University Advisement Center and Student Success programs.

An associate professor in the Department of Political Science, Dr. Calhoun-Brown graduated with honors from Oberlin College and earned master’s and doctoral degrees in political science from Emory University.

Jeffrey Brand is trained as an analytical philosopher and attorney. His scholarship and teaching address moral, ethical, and legal issues ranging from highly to moderately theoretical. Some of his research is interdisciplinary, infusing philosophy with legal scholarship and social science. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in ethics, legal philosophy, inequality, constitutional interpretation, punishment theory, criminalization, and other topics. In 2010 he received the Morton A. Bender Award for Excellence in General Teaching.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Vassar College, Professor Brand received both a law degree and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He was a visiting student at Yale Law School in 1993-94 and admitted to the Illinois State Bar. He is the author of Limits of Legality: The Ethics of Lawless Judging (Oxford University Press 2010, Chinese translation 2017), Philosophy of Law: Introducing Jurisprudence (Bloomsbury 2013), and co-editor of Biomedical Ethics, 7th ed. (McGraw-Hill 2011). He has published articles in leading journals in his field, including Ethics, Legal Theory, and the Canadian Journal of Law & Jurisprudence. In 2012-13 he was the full-time Visiting Scholar in the Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health.

Professor Brand served from 2014-19 as associate dean for graduate studies in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences at GW. In that capacity he was responsible for a student support budget of $11 million and eighty graduate programs enrolling more than 2,700, including students in the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration; Corcoran School of the Arts and Design; and School of Media and Public Affairs. He designed and implemented a successful program to attract and yield more applicants from Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCUs and Hispanic-Serving Institutions). He also served on the national steering committee of the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society for doctoral candidates from historically underrepresented minorities.

Gillian Pierce is Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education at Harvard University, responsible for academic programs and policy for all undergraduate students.  Her portfolio also includes General Education, the Writing Program, First-Year Seminars, engaged scholarship, creativity and entrepreneurship, academic program review, first-year academics, and instructional support.  During her time at Harvard, she has helped develop initiatives to support students from under-resourced backgrounds, such as the Harvard Rising Scholars Program, new ways of integrating public service into the curriculum, such as Harvard’s new Certificate in Civic Engagement, and policies to reflect changing student demographics and to support all students, championing the principles and recommendations of UERU’s Boyer 2030 report.
 
Previously, she spent 15 years at Boston University, where she served as Assistant Provost for Academic Assessment.  Her responsibilities there included leading learning outcomes assessment for all undergraduate and graduate academic programs, accreditation, and leading a task force to review and change teaching evaluation practices on campus.   She also participated in developing general education learning outcomes for the BU Hub.  She received her PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Kenneth Alonzo Anderson, a former middle school teacher, earned a Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction, with a minor in Educational Research and Policy Analysis from North Carolina State University in 2005. Anderson has also completed additional statistical training at Northwestern University, Stanford University, and the University of Michigan. Anderson is Associate Provost of Undergraduate Studies and Professor in the School of Education at Howard University. Anderson also served as Senior Research Scientist with the CNA's Institute for Public Research.

Anderson’s primary research interests include using classical statistics, data science, and machine learning algorithms to examine school safety, student success, education finance, and other education policies that aspire to improve schools. Evolving interests include dynamical systems, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, linear algebra for statistical learning, and parametric experimentation for deep learning.

Anderson is noted for his ability to conduct large-scale data analysis, translate results, and provide professional development for practitioners and policymakers. In 2020, Anderson was invited by the National Institute of Justice to serve as a contributor on a report to Congress on school policing. Working through the United States Department of Education’s Regional Education Laboratory (REL) Appalachia, Anderson served as Principal Investigator on a longitudinal, statewide disciplinary data analysis project with the Virginia Department of Education to inform strategies for minimizing suspensions and referrals to law enforcement.

Anderson co-authored a policy brief on school safety and SROs and his research has appeared in journals such as Journal of Teacher Education, Teachers College Record, Middle Grades Review, Journal of Negro Education, and Journal of Computer Science Integration. Anderson also conducted a statewide evaluation of the relationship between increased use of school resource officers and school safety outcomes. Anderson has served as Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator, or Senior Personnel on externally funded projects from organizations such as the U.S. Department of Education, National Science Foundation, and the American Educational Research Association.

Luoheng Han, vice provost for undergraduate education, effective July 1, 2025. Han brings more than three decades of experience in higher education leadership, academic innovation, experiential learning, general education reform and faculty and student success initiatives.

As vice provost for undergraduate education, Han will lead a portfolio of academic and co-curricular programs that enhance undergraduate experience across IU Bloomington’s 17 schools and colleges. His charge includes oversight of the IU Bloomington general education program, curricular innovation, faculty development and student support initiatives aligned with the university’s strategic plan, IUB 2030.

As the vice provost for undergraduate education and dean of University College, Christina Downey collaborates with academic units across all disciplines to advance student success, improve retention and graduation rates, and reduce equity gaps. She leads the Division of Undergraduate Education and its key units: University College, Honors College, and Institute for Engaged Learning, in delivering high-quality learning experiences and support programs to undergraduate students.

Downey began her role with IU Indianapolis in February 2023. Previously, Downey held academic and administrative appointments at IU Kokomo, where she most recently served as the interim executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and professor of psychology. Her tenure at IU Kokomo included experiences overseeing all academic operations including fiscal operations, fulfilling an integral role in hiring and personnel matters involving faculty, leading all professional undergraduate advising, designing and directing first year experience programs, and focusing on academic compliance and policy including accreditation reporting activities.

A thoughtful, collaborative, and engaged higher education professional, Downey brings a servant-leader approach to successfully navigate complex challenges. She emphasizes empowering colleagues with data, professional development, and enthusiastic colleagueship to implement innovative ideas through informed and constructive dialogue. As a lifelong learner and active scholar, Downey brings the perspective of a social scientist and social justice advocate to day-to-day decision making.

Downey is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Purdue University, where she specialized in clinical psychology. Throughout her career, Downey has authored a number of publications and delivered numerous professional presentations related to student success and psychology. Her research interests span health behavior; eating disturbance and disorder, issues of body image, and perfectionism; multicultural and international issues in mental health and wellness behaviors in relation to positive psychology; and service-learning activities, online learning, and attitudes about diversity in higher education.

Dr. Ann Marie VanDerZanden is Associate Provost for Academic Programs, a Louis Thompson Distinguished Undergraduate Teacher, and Professor of Horticulture at Iowa State University. Her experience promoting excellence in higher education is long established and includes service as national president of the North American College and Teachers of Agriculture, and leadership roles in other professional organizations. She has presented original scholarly work on faculty development, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and student success to several national and international audiences of academic administrators and other higher education professionals.

Associate Provost VanDerZanden provides leadership for centrally coordinating undergraduate academic programs, student academic success, institutional accreditation, online education, international programs, high impact educational practices, and faculty development through the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. She partners with the enrollment management executive team and Student Affairs staff to provide an engaging and enriching pathway for students from admission to graduation.

Dr. VanDerZanden formerly served as Director of the ISU Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, where she led the center in meeting its mission to support, promote, and enhance teaching effectiveness and student learning at Iowa State.

As a horticulture faculty member VanDerZanden has taught over 20 different subject matter courses across the breadth of horticulture topics. Her research interests include undergraduate pedagogy and using appropriate technology to enhance the teaching and learning experiences of students and faculty. She is a Fellow of the American Society for Horticulture Science, an award-winning teacher, and co-author of three textbooks.

Dr. VanDerZanden joined the Iowa State University faculty in 2003. She is a native of Washington state where her interest in horticulture and crop production started at an early age. She earned her B.S. and Ph.D. from Washington State University and her M.S. from Cornell University.

Dr. Erin Kathleen Rowe is the Vice Dean for Undergraduate Education and professor in the Department of history. The Vice Dean for Undergraduate Education is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the quality of undergraduate education in the Krieger School. This person develops new initiatives, engages faculty and students in undergraduate education discussions, and approves new majors and minors. The vice dean for undergraduate education oversees several administrative offices including advising, global education, postbac and research offices.

Michael Falk is a professor of materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, and physics at Johns Hopkins University. He also serves as the vice dean for undergraduate education within the Whiting School of Engineering, a position he has held since July 2017.

Falk’s research focuses on utilizing computer simulation on the atomic scale to understand what happens when materials are pushed out of equilibrium by processes such as bending, breaking, charging, and undergoing frictional sliding. Since returning to Johns Hopkins, his funded projects have expanded to include educational research on how engineering students best learn computing and two NSF-funded partnerships with Baltimore City Schools to increase engagement of students, teachers, and communities in STEM learning. Falk has also been a strong advocate for diversity, particularly creating a welcoming climate for LGBTQ people within our university and the engineering and physics professions.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics (1990) and a master’s degree in computer science (1991) from Johns Hopkins. He completed his PhD in physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara and then launched his academic career as a computational materials scientist at the University of Michigan in 2000. In 2008, he returned to Johns Hopkins.

Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

Kansas State University

The associate vice president will be responsible for fostering the integration of academic and career development initiatives to advance student success and post-graduation outcomes.

The associate vice president will be a vital partner in realizing the 10 imperatives that are part of the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan and the four areas of focus for K-State's National Institute of Student Success playbook. Additionally, Watts will directly supervise K-State First, Academic Advising, the Career Center and Academic Success and Student Affairs technology.

Denise Bartell is Associate Provost for Academic Affairs at Kent State University, where she facilitates strategic initiatives related to access, retention, completion, and student success with a focus on improving equity of outcomes for historically underserved students and empowering faculty as key stakeholders in this work. Her scholarship takes a systemic and explicitly relational approach, most recently exploring a reconceptualization of faculty development to utilize principles of high impact learning experiences and authentic engagement to create communities of transformation where members are empowered to transform public higher education as a tool for building a more just and equitable society. Denise earned a B.S. in Human Development & Family Studies from Cornell University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Human Development & Family Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin.

I received my B.S. in Psychology from Xavier University and a Master's and Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from The Pennsylvania State University. My research examines the links between social relationships and health via two-related lines of inquiry. My first line of inquiry seeks to understand the health implications of stressful experiences involving family (e.g., conflict, social support demands), particularly within African American families. My second line of inquiry focuses on family relationships in later life and explores how experiences in this tie have implications for both aging parents and their adult children. Across both lines of inquiry, my research combines different methodological approaches, including videotaped observations and daily diary procedures, to better understand how negative relational experiences influence health and well-being during adulthood. Additionally, my research program offers opportunities for undergraduate students to become involved in research outside of the classroom. I currently serve as the Faculty Coordinator for the McNair Scholars Program. I am a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and a member of the National Council on Family Relations and the American Psychological

Dr. John J. Su is vice provost for academic affairs and student success. Su previously served as director of the University Core of Common Studies and interim chair of the Department of English. As a scholar of global Anglophone literatures, he has authored two books and more than 20 articles and reviews.

In 2014, Su received the university’s highest teaching honor, the Robert and Mary Gettel Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence.

Julia M. Spears, Ph.D., is the Assistant Provost of Online Education and Certification. She has oversight for online education, the Design Center, microcredentials and certification. She is the campus coordinator for Quality Matters (QM), State Authorization Network (SAN) and the WV Higher Education Policy Commission Virtual Learning Network (WVVLN). She also serves on the Strategic Enrollment Management committee. As a Certified Practitioner of Human-Centered Design, she will use design thinking strategies to shape the future direction of Marshall’s online programs.

Dr. Spears came to Marshall in 2022 from the University of Pittsburgh where she was the Associate Vice Provost for Academic Innovation. In this role, she was responsible for developing and executing the Personalized Education Initiative in the Office of the Provost which focused on building infrastructure to connect students with the tools, information and resources they need to “forge their own path.” Working with the Office of the Chancellor, she redesigned the Pitt Seed program to strengthen collaboration and innovation across the institution. She also leads a national community of practice of academic advisors for the Association of Undergraduate Education at Research Universities (UERU). From 2015-2017, Dr. Spears served as associate director of the Barger Leadership Institute at the University of Michigan focused on developing leaders through real-world projects. She also launched the Michigan Leadership Collaborative to connect leadership resources and programs. Prior to that, Dr. Spears held the position of associate vice provost for engaged learning at Northern Illinois University, a position she was promoted to after serving as the founding director of the Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning. She had broad oversight of undergraduate research, community engagement and learning community programs. She also served as the NSSE campus coordinator. From 2003-2009, Dr. Spears served in various roles at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She launched the Research Rookies program, directed the McNair Scholars and SUIC Illinois Louise Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation.

Dr. Spears has published in the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience & Students in Transition, Education Research International, and Learning Communities Research and Practice. Dr. Spears has a PhD in educational administration and higher education from Southern Illinois University; a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach; and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and speech communication from the University of Washington.

Kate is the Associate Dean for Experiential Learning and Director of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) at MIT. In her role, Kate leads the wonderful team of UROP staff in managing ongoing operations and defining and pursuing strategic objectives. She also manages aspects of the Office of Experiential Learning’s assessment, communications, systems, and programming to create a more intentional, integrated, and impactful ecosystem of experiential learning opportunities across MIT. 

Kate has worked in MIT’s Division of Graduate and Undergraduate Education (GUE) in various roles since 2018. Across these roles, she has led and supported strategic initiatives in GUE including staffing the Task Force on the Undergraduate Academic Program, leading various projects to improve access to and quality of experiential learning opportunities, assessing and reimagining first-year advising, reforming grading policies, and facilitating major exploration. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture Studies from MIT and a Master of Education degree in higher education administration from Northeastern University.

David L. Darmofal SM ’91 PhD ’93 is the vice chancellor for undergraduate and graduate education and the Jerome C. Hunsaker Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

As a faculty member and administrator, Darmofal has been deeply involved in engineering education innovation efforts at MIT, including creating blended learning pedagogies; developing open digital-learning content; designing more flexible degree programs; revamping graduate programs; and creating first-year advising seminars. He has served in many leadership roles in AeroAstro and co-chaired two Institute-wide committees focused on improving personal and professional development and career exploration for students. Darmofal also contributed his expertise in engineering pedagogy to the development of the Schwarzman College of Computing’s Common Ground efforts, to address the need for computing education across many disciplines.

Darmofal has received numerous awards for excellence in teaching and advising. A champion of research-based best practices in teaching and digital learning, he received the School of Engineering Bose Award for Junior Faculty and the Common Ground Award for Excellence in Teaching; has been named an MIT MacVicar Faculty Fellow; and has been recognized twice by the MIT student chapter of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) for excellence in undergraduate teaching. Darmofal has also garnered recognition for his mentorship from the AIAA student chapter and as a recipient of the Earll M. Murman Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising.

His principal research interests include computational methods for partial differential equations, especially fluid dynamics. Darmofal has been an author on approximately 130 technical publications in peer-reviewed journals and conferences. He has also helped lead national initiatives to improve engineering education through both the AIAA and the National Academy of Engineering.

Darmofal received a BS in aerospace engineering in 1989 from the University of Michigan and a PhD in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT in 1993. After completing postdoctoral work at the University of Michigan, he taught at Texas A&M University before joining MIT’s AeroAstro faculty in 1998.

Mark Largent currently serves MSU as the vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Education. He is an historian of science and joined MSU in 2005 as an assistant professor in James Madison College, where he directed the science policy minor and taught for 12 years. In his current role, he helps coordinate the undergraduate experience across MSU’s 16 undergraduate-serving colleges and is a passionate leader for making the university even better at supporting every student to learn, thrive, and graduate.

Professor Largent’s research and teaching focuses on the role of scientists and physicians in American public policy. He has published three books and dozens of articles on the evolution-creation debate, the professionalization of American biology, Darwinism, the history of the American eugenics movement, and recent debates over compulsory vaccination. Prior to his current appointment at MSU, Professor Largent was associate dean and interim dean of Lyman Briggs College, associate dean of Undergraduate Education, and director of learning analytics in the Hub for Innovation in Learning and Technology.

Professor Largent received his Ph.D. in the history of science and technology in 2000 from the University of Minnesota and his master’s degree in African-American history from the University of North Texas in 1995. Before coming to MSU, he taught at the University of Puget Sound and Oregon State University.

Interim Associate VP for Strategic Partnerships

Mississippi State University

Dr. Robin Gore joined Missouri S&T in July 2024 as vice chancellor for student success. Prior to this, she was the vice president for student affairs at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, Pennsylvania. Gore holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin, a master’s degree in education and student affairs administration from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Jessica C. Murphy, PhD is the inaugural Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Success, and Academic Innovation at Montclair State University in New Jersey. As Vice Provost, she is responsible for advancing undergraduate education, student success initiatives, and academic innovation strategies at Montclair State University while also supporting university-wide efforts to increase student sense of belonging. A strong belief in the transformative power of higher education guides Murphy’s work in student success.

Danielle Insalaco-Egan, PhD, serves as the Acting Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of University College at Montclair State. She previously served as Assistant Provost for University Advising and Career Services (formerly Assistant Provost for Student Success), as well as the inaugural Associate Dean for University College. Prior to joining Montclair State, Dr. Insalaco-Egan served as Assistant Dean for Student Support at Guttman Community College, where she developed innovations and secured over $2.3 million in funding to expand student success initiatives.

She holds a PhD in English and American Literature from New York University, where she also started her career in higher education administration. She has focused on advising structures, technology-mediated advising and high impact practices for 25 years.

Dr. Kara Turner is Morgan State University’s inaugural Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success, appointed on July 1, 2016, and promoted to Senior Vice President in July 2023. She provides strategic leadership to the University’s enrollment management efforts, overseeing seven student services offices: Undergraduate Recruitment, Admissions Operations, Financial Aid, Student Success and Retention, the Center for Academic Success and Achievement, the Registrar, and the Bear Essentials One Stop Student Services Center. Under her leadership, numerous enhancements to student services have been implemented, over $4 million in external grants to support student success have been awarded, and the University has experienced historic increases in enrollment, retention rates, and graduation rates.

Dr. Turner has worked at Morgan since 2002. Before her appointment as Vice President, she held various administrative positions, including Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Associate Provost at Morgan, and Assistant to the Dean of Liberal Arts and Education and Assistant Professor of History at Virginia State University. Dr. Turner earned her B.A. in Political Science and Africana Studies from Rutgers University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in American History from Duke University. Her research specialty is African American civil rights and educational history. She has authored several publications, including book chapters, peer-reviewed journal articles, book reviews, and encyclopedia entries. She has also given numerous scholarly and public presentations at national conferences, schools, universities, and community venues.

Dr. Turner has extensive experience in Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management and is committed to ensuring that students from all socioeconomic backgrounds and levels of academic preparedness have the opportunity to obtain a college degree.

Associate Vice President of Student Success and Retention

Morgan State University

As Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Mark Siegal works closely with senior leadership to ensure academic excellence throughout the University. He leads collaborative efforts to advance pedagogy and other impactful parts of the student experience, including academic advising and undergraduate research. His office directs the NYU Center for Teaching and Learning and is responsible for managing the development and administration of undergraduate academic curriculum, policies, and procedures. He heads a number of standing committees, including the Undergraduate Program Committee, the Undergraduate Academic Affairs Committee, and meetings of the Undergraduate Deans, and serves on the Senate Academic Affairs Committee. He administers the University Professors and Silver Professors programs and assists with administration of the Faculty Fellows in Residence.

Dr. Siegal has been at NYU since 2005, and has served as Director of Undergraduate Studies for Biology and as Vice Dean of the College of Arts & Science. As Director of Undergraduate Studies, he spearheaded major changes to the introductory Biology curriculum, increased the use of technology to enhance student advising, and led the creation of a unique study-away opportunity for science students at NYU Tel Aviv. As Vice Dean, he directed the College Core Curriculum and was co-investigator on an Association of American Universities STEM Mini-Grant to improve introductory instruction across the lab sciences. He has spoken in numerous settings on innovative teaching and on diversity and inclusion in science and teaching. He was named a National Academies Education Fellow in the Life Sciences; was awarded a National Science Foundation CAREER award for research and teaching; and earned the College of Arts & Science's Golden Dozen teaching award, the Graduate School of Arts & Science's Outstanding Faculty award, and the University's Distinguished Teaching Award.

Dr. Siegal is Professor of Biology in the NYU Center for Genomics and Systems Biology. His research focuses on the evolution of complex traits. He pioneered the use of automated microscopy to understand how similarities and differences between organisms are caused by the combined effects of genetics, environment and random chance. He is the author of over 60 scholarly publications and his research laboratory has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. He has served frequently on federal panels, including as Chair of the Genetic Variation and Evolution Study Section of the National Institutes of Health from 2021 to 2023.

Dr. Siegal received a Ph.D. in Biology from Harvard University and a Sc.B. in Biology from Brown University.

Zapata began working at NC State in 1998, serving in progressively responsible leadership roles within the Division of Student Affairs for 14 years and providing leadership within the Division of Academic and Student Affairs for the past 10 years. As the senior associate vice chancellor, she provides support to Air Force, Army, and Naval ROTC; Career Development Center; Counseling Center and Prevention Services; Jeffrey Wright Military and Veteran Services; Office of Student Conduct; Student Health Services; Student Legal Services; Student Media; and Wellness and Recreation.

Zapata received her bachelor’s in Psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill and both her master’s in Counseling and her doctorate in Educational Research and Policy Analysis from NC State. She is also a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor.

Alicia Schatteman is currently the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and a professor in the Department of Public Administration. She received her Ph.D. in public administration from Rutgers University-Newark and a master’s degree in communications management from Syracuse University. She also consults and conducts research in nonprofit strategic planning and performance measurement. Prior to returning to school for her Ph.D., she worked for 10 years in the public and nonprofit sectors as a communications specialist and then as an executive director.

Karen Smilowitz

Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education

Northwestern University

Dr. Sarah Poggione (she/her) serves as the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at Ohio University. In her current role, her responsibilities focus on academic affairs and undergraduate education including program curricular planning, program assessment, academic advising, and student success. In the role she collaborates with OHIOs University Curriculum Council, the Assistant Deans Council, and the Schedule Planning and Coordination Committee, as well as faculty, staff, and students across colleges and campuses.

Previously, she served in various academic leadership roles in Ohio University’s College of Arts and Sciences including Interim Dean; Associate Dean for Students, Curriculum, and Instruction; and Political Science Department Chair. Before coming to OHIO, she was a faculty member in the Department of Politics and International Relations at Florida International University and Franklin Fellow in the Political Science Department at the University of Georgia.

Sarah Poggione is a Professor of Political Science. She earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from the Pennsylvania State University and completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Houston. Her research and teaching interests are in the general area of American politics including state politics and policy, quantitative research methods, gender and politics, and political behavior.

Dr. Chris Francisco serves as Senior Vice Provost in the Division of Academic Affairs at OSU, where he is also a Professor of Mathematics. He has been at OSU since 2007, having previously served as Head of the Department of Mathematics from 2018 to 2021 and as the department’s Associate Head for Lower-Division Instruction from 2012 to 2018. Francisco helped lead OSU’s efforts to reform lower-division mathematics instruction and introduce corequisite support to make college-level mathematics accessible to more students. His research is in commutative algebra, and he is interested in its connections to combinatorics and the use of computer algebra systems.

Francisco’s accolades include being named Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate by the National Resource Center for First-Year Experience and Students in Transition (2018) and receiving the OSU Regents Distinguished Teaching Award (2016), the Mathematical Association of America Oklahoma-Arkansas Section Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics (2016), and the OSU University Service Award (2015).

Dr. Amy M. Johnson (she/her) is a leader, practitioner, and scholar in general education, high-impact practices, and equity-minded, student-centered curricular reform.  
 
She has overseen general education programs and implemented high-impact practices, led faculty development workshops and curricular reforms at several universities, and presented her work at national conferences, including AAC&U and the Assessment Institute in Indianapolis. Amy has also led two university teams through the General Education and Assessment Institute and served as an expert faculty member for the program. 
 
Amy co-authored a chapter titled “Institutional and Instructional Humility for Equity-Forward Teaching and Learning” in Recentering Learning: Complexity, Resilience, and Adaptability in Higher Education. She also has a forthcoming chapter titled “Transdisciplinary and Decolonial Frameworks for the Administration of General Education” in General Education in Higher Education. Additionally, she published “Marginalized and Minoritized in General Education: A Call for Better Implementation Design” in the Journal of General Education.
 
Amy serves on the Editorial Review Board for Experiential Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (ELTHE) Journal, the Board of Directors for Bringing Theory to Practice, and the Research and Scholarship Committee for the Society for Experiential Education.
 
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and African Diaspora Studies from Tufts University and her master’s and doctoral degrees at Duke University, where she focused on pre-colonial West African History, early colonial Caribbean History, and comparative slave studies.
 
Dr. Amy M. Johnson is the associate provost for undergraduate education and affiliated faculty in African American and African Studies at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. 

Interim Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education

Pennsylvania State University

Associate Vice President and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education

Pennsylvania State University 

Dr. Rieck joined Penn State’s Office of Undergraduate Education in 2016 from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where he served as the chair of the Department of Music and Theatre Arts and professor of choral music and music education. He holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction (Music Education), as well as master's and bachelor's degrees in Music Education, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As associate vice provost and associate dean for Undergraduate Education, Dr. Rieck leads undergraduate research initiatives offered through the Office of Undergraduate Education, including the University’s annual Undergraduate Exhibition and leadership for the Student Engagement Network.

Dr. Cristina Herrera was born and raised in Oxnard, California and arrived to PSU in 2021. She earned her PhD in English from Claremont Graduate University, specializing in contemporary Chicana/Latina literature. In 2014, she published her first book, Contemporary Chicana Literature: (Re)Writing the Maternal Script. She published the first book on Chicana young adult literature in 2020, ChicaNerds in Chicana Young Adult Literature: Brown and Nerdy. In her spare time, she enjoys long phone calls with her identical twin sister, reading, and spending time with her family at dog parks and beaches.

Research Interests:
Chicana/Latina young adult literature, Chicana feminism, Chicana memoirs and life writing.

Haley Oliver is the senior vice provost for academic and student success and the 150th Anniversary Professor of food science at Purdue University. She is the first to serve in this newly envisioned vice provost role, which was approved by the Board of Trustees in April 2024.

Her brief time in this role has been marked by notable achievements, such as increasing the flexibility of fellowship funding for PhD student recruitment and launching the Future Faculty Boot Camp to help Purdue students and postdocs navigate academic career paths at leading institutions.

Oliver leads the ongoing efforts in West Lafayette and Indianapolis to amplify and accelerate the success of Purdue’s many graduate students, professional students and postdoctoral scholars. She has held several leadership positions at Purdue, including assistant dean of ag online programs for the College of Agriculture and director of the USAID Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Safety. She has led initiatives to enhance the online portfolio of the College of Agriculture. She is recognized as a global leader in food safety in developing economies (e.g., Kenya, Cambodia, and Nepal) and was instrumental in developing food safety capacity in Afghanistan from 2012-17.

Oliver’s research focuses on the prevalence, persistence and transmission of foodborne pathogens, particularly Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella, in food systems. Her work aims to develop practical control strategies to reduce cross contamination and improve food safety. Oliver is an internationally recognized expert in sanitizer and disinfectant efficacy, bridging both food and health care systems.

Her excellence in research, teaching and service has been recognized through numerous awards, including the USDA and Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities John Morrill Award, the USDA Food and Agriculture Science Excellence in Teaching Award, Purdue University’s Corinne Alexander Spirit of the Land-Grant Mission Award, the Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award and the College of Agriculture Research Award.

Dr. Servaty-Seib is the senior associate vice provost for teaching and learning at Purdue University. She is a professor of Counseling Psychology in the College of Education with specialization in the field of thanatology (i.e., the study of death and dying) including late adolescent/young adults grief, suicidal ideation, and social support offered to the bereaved. She co-edited Assisting Bereaved College Students, a higher education resource, and We Get It, a book of narratives by grieving college students. Her scholarship has supported the development of college student grief absence policies at Purdue and other U.S. institutions. Dr. Servaty-Seib and her grief and loss research team developed the Perceived Impact of Life Event Scale, a measure that uses the gain/loss framework (i.e., all life events involve both gains and losses) to assess the multidimensional impact of single life events. Her engaged research has been supported by funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Lumina Foundation, and the John W. Anderson Foundation. Dr. Servaty-Seib was selected to serve as the lead editor of the most recent edition of the Handbook of Thanatology (2021).

As a teacher, Dr. Servaty-Seib has been active in service-learning as a powerful form of pedagogy receiving department, college, university (i.e., service-learning fellow), and state awards (i.e., Indiana Campus Compact—now Community-Engaged Alliance). She is also a recipient of Association for Death Education and Counseling-Death Educator of the Year award. With counseling and development colleagues, she coordinated the development of the Certificate in Collaborative Leadership, open to all Purdue undergraduates. To become tomorrow’s leaders, students need to be trained in the interpersonal aspects of leadership. The Certificate program uses highly experiential training to take students beyond management skills to team-building, empowerment of others, and identifying and capitalizing on human resources to reach goals. Dr. Servaty-Seib served two terms on the University Senate and was pivotal in the establishment of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion standing committee.

In her current role as senior associate vice provost of teaching and learning, Dr. Servaty-Seib works most directly with the teaching and learning units focused on student success, academic advising, exploratory studies (i.e., students exploring their best fit major), summer and winter sessions, academic and student success technology platforms, and Purdue’s relationship with the Purdue Polytechnic High Schools. She is also engaged in efforts to expand effective use of data to inform teaching and learning practices and is a primary facilitator of the relationship between teaching and learning and Purdue for Life.

She received her Ph.D. and Master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of North Texas and completed her undergraduate studies at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.

As Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, Dr. Schwindt-Bayer oversees Rice’s distribution system and the general education curriculum more broadly. She works closely with the faculty, students, and other administrative offices around campus to ensure a top-notch core educational experience for all students at Rice. Dr. Schwindt-Bayer also holds the Mary Elizabeth Edwards Chair in Government and Democracy and is a Professor of Political Science. She joined the Rice faculty in 2013. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses and conducts research on comparative politics, legislatures, representation, Latin America, and gender and politics. She was a U.S. Fulbright Fellow in Colombia in 2003, and in Fall 2008, was a Visiting Fellow at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Schwindt-Bayer is the author of four books and numerous journal articles. She is a divisional advisor for the School of Social Sciences at Brown College and a proud Brown College faculty associate.

Senior Vice Provost Moehling is responsible for promoting continued excellence in undergraduate education at Rutgers–New Brunswick. She directs the Office of the Chancellor's programs designed to advance student success. She also works closely with the leadership in the schools to encourage curricular and pedagogical innovation and to expand opportunities for experiential learning to prepare students for the world that lies ahead. She is a professor in the Department of Economics in the School of Arts and Sciences.

As the Sr. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Strategic Partnerships, John oversees the offices of academic technology, academic scheduling, Lifelong Learning, Student Retention, and Institutional Effectiveness. Dr. Gunkel leads and coordinates academic advising across the Rutgers-Newark based schools to ensure that advising approach is student-centered, and data driven. John also represents the Office of the Chancellor as it relates to academic labor relations, assessment, and academic program development and approvals.

Dr. Lisa Dorsey is the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training in the Doisy College of Health Sciences at Saint Louis University. Previously, she served as the Dean for the Doisy College of Health Sciences, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs and Associate Dean for Graduate Education for the Doisy College of Health Sciences, the Chair for the Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training and the Director of the Program in Health Sciences at Saint Louis University.

She oversees and coordinates the development and implementation of undergraduate academic programs, policies and support services. She works closely with the colleges and schools that offer undergraduate programs, leads the University-level Undergraduate Academic Affairs Committee (UAAC), and oversees academic advising, academic support, and other undergraduate-focused programs (Honors, Pre-Law and Pre-Professional Health, INTO-SLU, Interprofessional Education, and academic integrity). She also serves as a liaison for the Office of the Provost and UAAC to shared governance bodies including the University Undergraduate Core Committee (UUCC), the Council of Academic Deans and Directors (CADD), the Student Government Association (SGA), Faculty Senate and the Board of Trustees.

She has completed a number of research and scholarship projects exploring physical therapy intervention for neurological impairment, higher education organizational structure, student success models in physical therapy and women in leadership and the workplace. She is engaged in higher education as an accreditation reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission and has served the profession of physical therapy at the national level as a member of the American Physical Therapy Association Outcomes Strategies Task Force and has served her local community as a member of the Board of Education in the Mehlville School District. She was the recipient of the Saint Louis University Woman of the Year Award in 2016, the Student Development Collaborative Partner Award, the Faculty Commitment to Experiential Learning Leadership & Service Award, and has been a Saint Louis University - YWCA Leader in the Workplace. Dr. Dorsey holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy and a Master's in Business Administration from Saint Louis University, a PhD in Educational Policy and Administration in Higher Education from the University of Minnesota and a Women and Power: Leadership in the New World certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Professor Sheri Kunovich became the Associate Provost for Student Academic Engagement and Success at Southern Methodist University in July 2018. In this position she oversees student scholar programs, student academic success programs, national student awards programs, Engaged Learning, University Advising Center, and the Office of Student Success and Retention.

Dr. Kunovich graduated with a B.S. in Sociology from Texas A & M University. She earned M.A.s in Slavic and East European Studies and Sociology and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the Ohio State University. She joined the Department of Sociology in SMU's Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences in 2004. Professor Kunovich’s courses contribute to SMU majors and minors in Sociology, Markets and Cultures, Women and Gender Studies, International Studies, and Human Rights. She has taught courses at the SMU Taos Campus and served as the Director of the Prague Internship Program. She was previously awarded the Golden Mustang Award (2010), the Margareta Deschner Teaching Award (2013), the Excellence in Mentoring Award (2014), and the Extra Mile Award (2016). She was selected as an Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor in 2013. Dr. Kunovich served as Chair of the Sociology Department from 2014-2018. Professor Kunovich’s research within political sociology focuses on women’s representation in national legislatures and democratization in Eastern Europe. Her research within economic sociology focuses on attitudes towards distributive justice and consumption and consumerism. She has published articles in journals, such as the American Journal of Sociology, Annual Review of Sociology, Comparative Politics, Politics & Gender, and Social Forces.

Senior Associate Vice Provost

Stanford University

Cassandra Volpe Horii, Ph.D., serves as the associate vice provost for education and director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Stanford University. Before joining Stanford in February 2022, Horii served as the assistant vice provost and founding director of the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Outreach at Caltech, where she led efforts to advance and support inclusive, evidence-based teaching across disciplines. She was a founding member of the National Academies Roundtable on Systemic Change in Undergraduate STEM Education from 2018 to 2024, and served as president of the POD Network in Higher Education in 2018-19. Her prior institutional roles have included inaugural dean of the faculty at Curry College in Milton, MA, where she created the Faculty Center, and associate director of the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning at Harvard University.

As a first-generation student in higher education, Horii earned a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a doctorate in atmospheric chemistry in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science from Harvard University. She has taught undergraduate and graduate-level courses on university teaching and learning in STEM, atmospheric science, environmental chemistry, expository writing, and sustainability. Her scholarship has addressed topics such as the roles of centers for teaching and learning in institutional change and accreditation, the experiences of faculty with disabilities, inclusive and equity-minded teaching and mentoring, educational spaces and technologies, teaching consultation methods, and projects related to writing and visual rhetoric in higher education.

Rachelle Germana leads the Division of Undergraduate Education as the Senior Associate Provost. She was appointed to that role in January 2024. Germana has served since 2014 in Undergraduate Education at Stony Brook, and has worked professionally in higher education since 2001. 

Julie Hasenwinkel serves as Associate Provost for Academic Programs, supporting teaching, learning and student success. Her portfolio includes oversight of a wide range of University offices and programs in these areas, including the Center for Learning and Student Success, the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and Retention and Student Success.

Hasenwinkel, a Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence, was previously chair of the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) and a faculty affiliate of the BioInspired Institute. She has served as ECS associate dean for academic and student affairs and senior associate dean.

Her professional and scholarly areas of expertise include faculty development in teaching and learning; engineering education and active learning pedagogies; student success initiatives; orthopedic biomaterials; and biomaterials for nerve regeneration. She holds a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Northwestern University, an M.S. in bioengineering from Clemson University and a B.S.E. in biomedical engineering from Duke University.

Interim Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies

Temple University

Dr. Michael D. Johnson is serving as the Associate Provost for Academic Enhancement. He is a professor in the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution (ETID). He previously served as the associate dean for inclusion and faculty success in the College of Engineering. He has also held the role of associate department head for undergraduate studies in ETID and was program coordinator for the Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology program. Prior to joining the faculty of Texas A&M as an assistant professor, he was a senior product development engineer at the 3M Corporate Research Laboratory in St. Paul, Minnesota. 
 
Dr. Johnson’s research focuses on engineering education, production economics and design tools. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and industry partners.
 
Dr. Johnson received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University. He earned both his master’s degree in engineering and his doctoral degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Assistant Provost for Student Success & Transition Academic Programs

Texas A & M University 

Dr. Wilburn utilizes his collaborative leadership style and experience in strategic planning to strengthen partnerships with Student Affairs, Academic Advising, and Student Access and Accommodation, to help TCU experience even higher levels of student achievement for all students. He collaborates with the Dean of Students, academic deans, department chairs, Faculty Senate, Undergraduate Council, and the Provost’s Council to support high-quality, innovative undergraduate programs.

Dr. Wilburn focuses on three strategic initiatives: champion undergraduate student success; support undergraduate education for the future, and support innovative advising platforms and protocols. He also examines the undergraduate student population that TCU aspires to educate and the efficacy of traditional and non-traditional models of education.

Dr. Wilburn’s accomplishments include visionary strategic planning, transparent decision-making, and shared governance. As a teacher and administrator, he has inspired collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and alumni to focus on student retention, signature program development, faculty development, enrollment management, academic standards, and curriculum development, enrichment and management. He monitors the test-optional pilot program to assess its impact on students’ academic performance and success across multiple demographic populations. He updates Academic Affairs on new state and federal Title IX legislation governing the academic rights and entitlements of expectant parents to include post-natal concerns. And he serves as advisor for the Black Student Association and on the organizational leadership team for Brothers Reaching Brothers professional affinity group.

Dr. Wilburn joined TCU as dean of the former School of Interdisciplinary Studies after serving at the University of New Hampshire from 2007 to 2021 as professor of African-American Literature and Milton Studies and Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts.  At UNH he was honored with the Faculty Award for Social Justice, Center for Humanities Faculty Fellowship, Leadership Fellow for the AGB Institute for Leadership and Governance in Higher Education, and President’s Commission on the Status of Women Faculty Award. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in English from the University of Connecticut, and B.A. in English from the University of the District of Columbia.

Ph.D,. University of Houston
A.M., University of Chicago
B.A., Texas Southern University                                                           

Wrongfully Convicted Persons; Aging Issues; Social Work Advancement; Social Work Education; Research Methods; Social Welfare Policy, Policy Analysis; Children & Families; Quality Assurance & Improvement; Aging Populations; Administration and Community Organization; Field Education Development  

Dr. Aswath is the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. As TXST Provost, Dr. Aswath is helping in the pursuit of our strategic Hopes and Aspirations High vision to become an R1 by 2027, enhancing student success, growing the Round Rock Campus, increasing enrollment, and making TXST an employer of choice. His focus includes examining academic structures, resource allocation, policies, and procedures to ensure the efforts of faculty, staff, and administrators align with the goals of the university and that academic priorities are implemented efficiently.  

In addition to his experience in academic operations, Dr. Aswath is an accomplished scholar. He is a Fellow of American Society of Materials, Fellow of Society of Tribology Lubrication Engineers, and most recently, was elected as Fellow of National Academy of Inventors. He has published over 150 journal papers, graduated 20 Ph.D. students and 35 master’s thesis students, has commercialized several technologies in materials science, and he is included in multiple patent publications and filings. 

Dr. Aswath earned a bachelor of science in physics, chemistry and math from St. Joseph College, Bangalore University, and a bachelor of engineering in metallurgy from the Indian Institute of Science. He earned a master of science in materials science and a doctorate in materials science and engineering at Brown University.

Dr. Brandi Falley earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Ouachita Baptist University in 2004. She then earned her Master’s and PhD in Statistics from Baylor University. Dr. Falley joined the faculty at Texas Woman’s University as an Assistant Professor in 2012. She is currently the Division Head for Mathematics, the Associate Director for the School of the Sciences, and the Math faculty liaison for the Dual Credit Office at Texas Woman’s University. She teaches statistics courses, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Falley’s research interests include statistics education at all levels, with a recent focus on developmental education and statistics. Dr. Falley is a former collegiate athlete and still enjoys competing and supporting student-athletes. She is a mom of two young children and lives a chaotic and active lifestyle.

As vice provost and dean for undergraduate education, Dr. Norman W. Jones leads the vision for challenging and transformative academic experiences for Ohio State undergraduate students on all our campuses.

Dr. Jones previously served as dean and director of Ohio State’s Mansfield campus, where he raised retention rates for underserved and historically underrepresented students, secured substantial philanthropic support for curricular innovation and student success, and helped create a new degree program at Ohio State to support advanced manufacturing. He also previously served as an associate dean and, prior to that, as the Department of English’s program coordinator for Mansfield. Above all, he is a skilled and passionate relationship-builder who has created partnerships across the state.

Dr. Jones is a professor in the Department of English who earned his PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his BA from Yale University. He is the author of Provincializing the Bible: Faulkner and Postsecular American Literature (2018), The Bible and Literature: The Basics (2016), and Gay and Lesbian Historical Fiction: Sexual Mystery and Post-Secular Narrative (2007). He is also co-editor of The King James Bible after 400 Years: Literary, Linguistic, and Cultural Influences (2010).

As vice provost and dean for undergraduate education, Dr. Jones provides leadership to the Office of Undergraduate Education, which includes Academic Enrichment, Military and Veterans Services (ROTC), Student-Athlete Support Services Office (SASSO), Undergraduate Education, and Transition and Academic Growth. He is proud to serve Ohio State’s exceptionally talented staff who work across these areas to support students and provide them with transformative academic experiences.

Mollye Demosthenidy is a clinical professor in the department of health policy and management. Her academic interests lie in healthcare reform; the role of law and policy in improving healthcare outcomes; and the intersection of law, politics, and healthcare policy. She teaches courses addressing health law and regulation, ethics, and health policy, at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Prior to joining the faculty at Tulane, she practiced law at two New Orleans firms, focusing on regulatory and transactional issues faced by healthcare providers. She holds a JD and an MHA, both from Tulane University, and a BS from Louisiana State University. Mollye, a nationally recognized expert in healthcare and former associate dean for Strategic Initiatives in the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (SPHTM), accepted the appointment as the new dean of Newcomb-Tulane College (NTC), effective July 1, 2023. Her appointment followed an extensive national search that attracted outstanding candidates from across the country. 

Kelly Grant is a senior associate dean in Newcomb-Tulane College and a professor of practice of management communication at the A.B. Freeman School of Business. She began her career at Tulane in 2000 and since 2016, Grant has led Tulane’s initiatives to improve student success, specifically, Tulane’s retention and graduation outcomes. In Newcomb-Tulane College, she oversees College Advising, the Academic Learning and Tutoring Center, Success Coaching, the First-Year Experience team, and the Office of Retention Data. Grant also leads the Wave of Support initiative in support of mental health in partnership with Student Affairs. Grant is a co-chair of the Commission on Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity, as well as serves on the Administrative Council, the Greek Life Steering Committee, and the executive board of the Management Communication Association. She holds an M.A in English and Rhetoric and is a doctoral candidate in education leadership, policy, and research.

Dr. Malatesta serves as the Dean for Undergraduate Education and the Vice Provost for Academic Innovation and Student Success at the University at Albany. In this role, Dr. Malatesta is responsible for many aspects of the University-wide academic enterprise, including supporting curriculum development, overseeing an innovative and proactive academic support infrastructure, managing academic policy and advancing the strategic initiatives of the University. Dr. Malatesta has a passion for transformative education and a steadfast commitment to fostering an environment of academic excellence and student success as evidenced by her leadership of initiatives that enhance curriculum relevance, foster interdisciplinary collaboration and promote a holistic approach to student development.

She has been instrumental in the development and coordination of a University-wide academic student success model that is grounded in strategic, intentional and data-informed innovations. Dr. Malatesta has implemented critical changes in the undergraduate academic experience, including launching the Academic Recovery Program, transforming academic standing processes and advancing student access to academic pathways through enhanced articulations.

Dr. Malatesta develops critical partnerships within the University, the SUNY system and the broader higher education community to grow and enhance the student experience for all students. She is committed to cultivating cross-divisional partnerships for collaborative efforts that often yield unique and personalized support essential to student success. She champions the use of state-of-the-art technologies and shared platforms that improve communication and connections between students, faculty, advisors and staff, resulting in increased faculty engagement and enhanced student experiences.

Dr. Malatesta joined the University at Albany in 1997 after completing an undergraduate degree in social psychology and criminal behavior at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She holds master's and doctorate degrees from the UAlbany School of Criminal Justice, where she has also served as an adjunct professor.

Gregory (Greg) L. Heileman currently serves as the Vice Provost, Academic Affairs and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Arizona, where he is responsible for facilitating collaboration across campus to strategically enhance institutional capacity related to academic administration.  He has served in various administrative capacities in higher education since 2004.  His experience includes work in the areas of faculty development, institutional research, accreditation and academic program review, curriculum management, student success, academic advisement, tutoring, student health \& wellbeing, student conduct, budget and finance, economic development, policy development, information technology and data governance, and strategic planning. 

From 2017-2019, he served as the Associate Provost for Student & Academic Life and Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Kentucky, where he was responsible for providing vision, leadership and strategic direction for campus-wide student success efforts, while also serving as the university’s Chief Student Affairs Officer. From 2011-2017, he served as the Associate Provost for Curriculum and then as the Vice Provost for Teaching, Learning and Innovation at the University of New Mexico (UNM).  During that time, he led campus-wide student academic success initiatives, and worked with key stakeholders on campus, to produce all-time record retention and graduation rates.  

His work as a professor began in 1990 when he joined the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at UNM.  He subsequently advanced through the academic ranks to Professor.  He has more than 170 peer reviewed publications in the areas of machine learning and data analytics, information security, and student success in higher education.  His research activities have generated more than $9,000,000 in external funding, and he has served as the advisor for 48 M.S. and Ph.D. students.  From 2005-2011 he served as Associate Chair (Director of Undergraduate Programs), and led the department through two ABET accreditation visits.  In 2011 he became an ABET program evaluator.  In 2009 he was also awarded the IEEE Albuquerque Section Outstanding Educator Award. He was the recipient of ECE’s Lawton-Ellis Award for combined excellence in teaching, research, and student/community involvement in 2001 and again 2009.  He held ECE’s Gardner Zemke Professorship from 2005-08.  He received the School of Engineering's Teaching Excellence award in 1995, and the ECE Department Distinguished Teacher Award in 2000. During 1998 he held a research fellowship at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, and in 2005 he held a similar position at the Universidad Politénica de Madrid.

He earned a BA in Biology from Wake Forest University, a MS in Biomedical Engineering and Mathematics from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1986, and his PhD in Computer Engineering from the University of Central Florida.

Ann Bisantz is the vice provost and dean of undergraduate education. Through oversight of academic policies, curriculum management, student success and retention, Bisantz's leadership enables all UB undergraduate students to achieve academic excellence. 

In this role, Bisantz stewards the strategic vision for the governance and management of UB's 21st-century general education program, the UB Curriculum, as well as the university's retention initiatives. Bisantz also provides visionary leadership support to the University Honors College, Cora P. Maloney Center, undergraduate research, and experiential learning, and student academic support initiatives such as the Center for Excellence in Writing, EAB Navigate platform, Tutoring and Academic Support Services and the Proud to be First initiative. Campus-wide undergraduate advising, student success coaching, and the Exploratory and Pre-Professional Advising Center also fall under Bisantz's purview, which ensures a coordinated approach to student achievement and engagement.

Dean since 2018, Bisantz has led initiatives to address learning gaps and improve pedagogy in key courses; collaborated on student success initiatives, including summer bridge courses and success coach models; overseen the full-scale implementation of the UB Curriculum; implemented efforts to streamline connecting first-year students to majors; and has led undergraduate education units in updating and transforming programming to meet the needs of today's students. Bisantz co-chaired the Curriculum and Pedagogy Committee for the President's Advisory Council on Race, co-chaired the Middles States Higher Education accreditation effort and was the 2022 chair of UB's SEFA Campaign for the Community. Bisantz is a SUNY Distinguished Professor and past chair of UB's Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, where she led successful undergraduate accreditation efforts, developed new undergraduate and graduate programs, and expanded and diversified the ISE faculty.

Bisantz earned a PhD from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a master's and bachelor's degree from UB. Her research areas are cognitive engineering, human decision-making, human-computer interface design and complex work systems analysis. She received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Research and Creative Activity in 2015, the Paul M. Fitts Educator Award from the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society in 2017 (where she was also named Fellow in 2013), the HFES WOMAN Mentor award in 2020, and has served on the executive boards of two professional societies. In 2024, she was appointed to the National Academie's Board on Human System Integration. Bisantz joined UB in 1997.

Krista Krause is the assistant vice provost for undergraduate education, overseeing undergraduate policy and curricular developments and providing leadership for the development of strategic undergraduate initiatives. Krause has been in higher education for more than 20 years and at UB since 2008, contributing her expertise in curriculum development, management and assessment, strategic planning, student success and liberal arts education. In 2015, Krause received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. She holds a master’s degree in higher education from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester.

Oliver is the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE) at UC Berkeley. As VPUE, he provides leadership on undergraduate education and is responsible for implementation of the campus strategic plan recommendations around Diversity, and Student Experience and Enrollment. Vice Provost O’Reilly oversees several strategic initiatives and academic programs, including Berkeley Changemaker®, Berkeley Discover, Berkeley Connect, the Berkeley Collegium, and the American Cultures Center, as well as major operating units such as the Athletic Study Center, Biology Scholars Program, Student Learning Center, and Research, Teaching, and Learning Services which provides support to faculty development through the Center for Teaching and Learning. He advises on enrollment planning and management, serves as a liaison for academic units to campus administrative offices, and chairs a number of campus committees.

In addition to his role as VPUE, O’Reilly is a distinguished professor and the holder of the Paul R. Gray Distinguished Chair in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. O’Reilly received his BE in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Galway, Ireland, and his MS and PhD degrees in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Cornell University. After spending two years as a postdoc at the Institut für Mechanik at ETH Zürich, he joined the faculty in Mechanical Engineering at Berkeley in 1992. His interests span the fields of continuum mechanics and nonlinear dynamics. 

O’Reilly has published more than 100 archival journal articles, written three textbooks, co-authored a recent book on discrete elastic rods, and is a co-inventor on two patents. He has received several teaching awards, including UC Berkeley’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 1999, the Pi Tau Sigma Professor of the Year Award in 2003, and the Tau Beta Pi Outstanding Faculty of the Year Award in 2013. He was chair of the Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate during the 2019-20 academic year, and in 2021 was a recipient of the Berkeley Faculty Service Award. During the 2020-21 academic year, he was Associate Dean for Graduate Education in the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society.

Michael Bradford joined UC Davis as its vice provost and dean for Undergraduate Education in February 2023.

Bradford served as vice provost for Faculty, Staff and Student Development at the University of Connecticut from 2020-2023. At UConn, he oversaw a similar, student-focused portfolio that included UConn’s Institute for Student Success, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, University Advising, Student Athlete Success Program, Honors and Enrichment, Career Development and Veteran Affairs. He also worked closely with the university’s chief diversity officer on diversity, equity, inclusion and justice initiatives and training.  

Prior to his vice provost position, Bradford was UConn’s department head of Dramatic Arts from 2017 to 2020 and director of the university’s Theatre Studies from 2010 to 2016. He joined UConn as an assistant professor of dramatic arts in 2000. Bradford is a military veteran with 10 years of service in the U.S. Navy.

An award-winning director, producer and playwright, Bradford has staged plays across the world, from New York City to the United Kingdom, Romania and Spain. He is a 20-year member of the Dramatists Guild of America and Treasurer of the University Resident Theatre Association board.

Bradford earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies with an emphasis in English literature from the University of Connecticut and a master of fine arts in playwriting from Brooklyn College, the City University of New York.

Professor Dennin earned his A. B. from Princeton University, and his M.A. and Ph.D. (1995) from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He held a postdoctoral position at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow and a Research Corporation Cottrell Scholar. He has been a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at UCI since 1997. You can find him on twitter (@DenninMichael), Instagram (@DenninMichael), Facebook (@ProfDenninMichael), and LinkedIn (denninmichael).

Professor Dennin’s main research interest is systems that exhibit emergent properties. These include the behavior of complex fluids, such as foam and sand, as well as the complex dynamics of biological systems. For a more detailed discussion of the research and fun pictures and movies, visit Professor Dennin’s Home Page: http://www.physics.uci.edu/~dennin.

Professor Dennin is well-known for popularizing science for the public. His latest work is The Physics of X: where X is everything except politics – YouTube series. He currently appears regularly on the podcast Fascinating Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gear-based Technology (fgggbt.com), where he and fellow panelist take “your favoriate science fiction and make it a reality.” He has taught many online courses on the nature of science, including team teaching a MOOC based on the television program, The Walking Dead. He has appeared on a number of television programs, including Spider-man Tech, Batman Tech, Star Wars Tech, Ancient Aliens, The UnXplained, and Histories Greatest Mysteries (list of appearances at IMbD). He has a book with Franciscan Media on science and religion titled: Divine Science: Finding Reason at the Heart of Faith that is available at independent bookstores everywhere, online at Franciscan Media dot Org, and of course Amazon.

He has been Vice Provost of Teaching and Learning and Dean, Division of Undergraduate Education at UCI since 2015. In this role, Michael is dedicated to enhancing the undergraduate experience at UC Irvine. He oversees programs that connect students to a wide range of academic programs and services and supports faculty and TAs in their efforts to teach undergraduate courses.

Adriana Galván is the Dean of Undergraduate Education at UCLA. She is also a Professor in the Department of Psychology and Director of the Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory at UCLA. Adriana’s work examines how neurobiological changes impact behavioral development during adolescence—particularly in the areas of decision-making, risk-taking, and emotional health.

As Dean for Undergraduate Education, I'm focused on providing an exceptional educational experience for UC Merced students, and ensuring that they thrive as they accomplish their goals. I have studied college student success for nearly 30 years and am passionate about how students grow and develop while in college as well as how we can provide an environment in which each student reaches their potential and goals.

Louie Rodriguez is Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education at the University of California, Riverside. Rodríguez is a longtime professor in UCR’s Graduate School of Education and served as the school’s interim dean from 2019 to 2022. He earned his doctorate in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2005.

Rodríguez is an Inland Empire native who earned his bachelor’s degree from California State University, San Bernardino, and then his master’s and doctorate degrees in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard University. As interim dean at the School of Education, he oversaw a $26 million budget, oversaw enrollment growth, and hired 30% of the school’s faculty. He joined UCR in 2017 and, as associate dean, helped launch a new undergraduate education major for the School of Education. He is the author of four books.

Prior to UCR, he was an associate professor in Educational Leadership and Technology and Co-Director of the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) and was also on the faculty at Florida International University in Miami for three years.

Dean of Undergraduate Education

University of California, San Diego 

Christine Alvarado joined the UC San Diego faculty in 2012. Prior to coming to the Jacobs School of Engineering, she was a tenured associate professor at Harvey Mudd College. She received her undergraduate degree in computer science from Dartmouth College in 1998, graduating summa cum laude. She received her and S.M. and Ph.D. in computer science from MIT in 2000 and 2004, respectively. Her work has been funded by several grants from the National Science Foundation including a CAREER award in 2005. She has won several awards for her teaching and contributions to education including the A. Richard Newton Educator ABIE Award (2013), the UC San Diego Academic Senate Distinguished Teaching Award (2017), the UC San Diego Chancellor’s Associates Faculty Excellence Award for Undergraduate Teaching (2019), the first NCWIT Academic Alliance Joanne McGrath Cohoon Academic Service Award (2022), and in 2018 was named a Distinguished Member of the Association for Computing Machinery for Outstanding Contributions to Computer Science Education.

Linda Adler-Kassner is Associate Vice Chancellor of Teaching and Learning at UC Santa Barbara. The Office of Teaching and Learning, which she leads, focuses through its six individual units on institution-wide academic assessment; equitable teaching and learning; student academic belonging; academic technologies; and high impact practices. Adler-Kassner is also a Professor of Writing Studies. At UCSB she has served as a department chair and Co-Dean of Undergraduate Education. She has also served as leader of national organizations in composition and rhetoric. Adler-Kassner’s administration, research, and teaching focus on examining and changing definitions of education, literacy, and learning. She is author, co-author, or co-editor of 14 books and more than 50 articles and book chapters, many of which have garnered awards. Her publications include Naming What We Know: Threshold Concepts in Writing Studies; Writing Expertise: A Research-Based Guide to Writing and Learning Across Disciplines, and the forthcoming Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn: A Collaborative Syllabus for Higher Education Leadership. In addition, she has authored numerous uncredited public policy documents focusing on writing and learning for institutional, state, and national audiences.

Professor of Computer Engineering.
Professor of Biomolecular Engineering
Chair of B.S. in Bioengineering
Director of UCSC's Bio-Info-Nano Research and Development Institute at NASA Ames

Faculty Advisor for UCSC chapters of Society of Women Engineers and Tau Beta Pi CA AD, and president of the UCSC Phi Beta Kappa chapter

I received a B.A. in Mathematics and B.S. in Engineering from Swarthmore College and an Sc.M. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Brown University.

My research interests include computer architecture, parallel processing, parallel programming languages and environments, computer applications in biology.

Wayne H. Bowen is Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies at the University of Central Florida, also serving as Professor of History. His responsibilities include leading the General Education Program for UCF’s almost 60,000 undergraduate studies, as well as managing teams over Academic Services and High Impact Practices.  His prior service includes multiple terms as department chair and director of general education at a regional public university, and director of interdisciplinary studies and interim dean at a large research university. He received a B.A. in History from the University of Southern California, an M.A. and Ph.D. in European History from Northwestern University, and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College. He has authored eleven books, seven on Spanish history, and more than two dozen journal articles, work that has been published in ten countries and translated into Spanish, Polish, French, and Turkish.  Bowen has conducted two external program reviews for general studies programs and served on academic review councils at two universities.  In his current assignment, he supervises general education with team of a two-full time and ten part-time faculty and staff, serves as administrative liaison to the General Undergraduate Requirements Committee, and serves as the senior administrator in Academic Affairs in collaboration with the 400+ faculty who teach general education each year.

Key responsibilities are Center for Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, Learning Commons, Institute for Postsecondary Learning Research, New Course an GenEd Reviews, Micro-credentialing

Erika Randall is the interim dean and vice provost of undergraduate education and a professor of dance. Randall sees her role as one of an amplifier, connector and conductor—of energy, programs and people—all in service to the thousands of undergraduate students who make up the heart of our campus.

The dean and vice provost of undergraduate education sits at a nexus of collaboration, fostering relationships across campus that create clear pathways for all undergraduate students at every juncture of their student experience.

Randall has been a CU Boulder faculty member since 2007 and is a dancer, teacher, choreographer, and filmmaker. As a performer, she has worked with Megan Odom, Teena Marie Custer, Sydney Skybetter, Michelle Ellsworth, the Mark Morris Dance Group and Buglisi/Foreman Dance.

Her choreography has been seen in four countries and 16 states over the last decade, and her internationally award-winning screendance works, including: “Paula + Francesca,” “Down for the Count,” “less,” “more,” and “self defense,” have screened at festivals such as the Beirut International Women Film Festival, the Beyond the Curve International Film Festival in Paris, the Starz Denver Film Festival, the Florence Queer Festival in Italy, and the Façade Film Festival in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Randall co-wrote, directed and choreographed the feature-length dance film “Leading Ladies” (2010), which played to sold-out audiences at more than 65 festivals worldwide. 

Randall served as the choreographer and movement director for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival (2017-24). Her podcast, “The Ampersand,” created with producer Tim Grassley, celebrates the alchemy of ANDing and can be found on most podcast platforms. Before assuming her current administrative role, Randall served as chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance (2016–22), and as the associate dean for student success in the College of Arts and Sciences (2022-24). 

She received the Excellence in Leadership and Service Award from the Boulder Faculty Assembly in 2019. Randall earned an MFA from The Ohio State University (2003), a BA from the University of Washington (1995), did coursework at the Juilliard School (1991-93), and earned her diploma from the Interlochen Arts Academy (1991).

Michael J Chajes, PhD., P.E., is currently Interim Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of the Honors College at the University of Delaware (UD) and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Chajes joined the UD faculty in 1990, and during his nearly 30 years at the university has served as chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering and dean of the College of Engineering. Dr. Chajes teaches classes and conducts research in the areas of structural engineering, structural health monitoring of bridges, and applications of sustainability.

Chajes received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and graduated with honors in 1984.  He attended the University of California at Davis (UCD) and received his M.S. in 1987 and his Ph.D. in 1990. While at Davis, Chajes was twice awarded that university’s Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award. Chajes is a registered Professional Engineer in Delaware and served on the state’s Professional Engineering Registration Board from 1995–2000.

Chajes has supervised 46 master’s students and eight Ph.D. students while at UD, as well as more than 60 undergraduate research students. He has served as PI or co-PI on more than $5M of research grants, has published more than 100 papers and presented his work through more than 70 talks in the U.S. and abroad. Some of his current research activities include the structural health monitoring of the Indian River Inlet bridge, turning food waste into energy, harvesting energy from long-span bridges, and investigating the potential of distributed rooftop solar power plants.

In 2010, Chajes was named Delaware’s Engineer of the Year and also was awarded a UC Davis College of Engineering Distinguished Engineering Alumni Medal. In 2012 he was a member of UD’s NSF Advance team that was awarded UD’s E. A. Trabant Award for Women’s Equity. In 2016 he was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Civil and Environmental Engineering Alumni at the University of Massachusetts.

Chajes is a member of the University’s Faculty Athletic Board and also serves on UD’s Sustainability Council. He also serves on the State of Delaware’s Sustainable Energy Utility Board. Chajes is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE).  Within ASCE, he was a member of the Department Heads Council Executive Committee from 2002–2007, serving as the chair of the council from 2005–2007.  He also served as a member of the committee that planned a major national summit on the “Future of the Civil Engineering Profession in 2025” held in 2006 and on the Government Affairs and Educational Activities Committees.  Within ASEE, he was a member of the Dean’s Council and the Public Policy Committee.

Matt Jacobs, Ph.D., is Interim Associate Provost and leader of UF Student Success in the Provost’s Office and Director of UF’s Bob Graham Center for Public Service.

As Interim Associate Provost, Dr. Jacobs leads a team of academic specialists who focus on initiatives and academic programs that promote students’ academic success and lifelong wellbeing in academic learning success, experiential and engaged learning, university advising, and academic pathways. As Director of the Graham Center, he is building on the center’s curricular, co-curricular, experiential learning, and public programming initiatives and broadening the center’s application of three driving principles — civic engagement, public leadership, and public service — while connecting the Center and its students with stakeholders nationally, and internationally.

Jacobs, an Associate Professor of U.S. and International History, earned his Ph.D. in History at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in 2002, and he joined UF and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) in 2003. His research focuses on U.S.-Middle East relations, a field in which he has published one book and is currently working on a second. Professor Jacobs has taught courses on U.S. foreign relations, U.S.-Middle East relations, the Vietnam War, and international studies.

Dr. Jason Mastrogiovanni is the Associate Provost for Student Success, overseeing campuswide initiatives for improving student success. He oversees academic support and data analysis, the coordination of academic advising, prestigious awards, McNair Scholars, UF Student Support Services, and ROTC. He holds concurrent appointments in the Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education as Senior Associate-In/Director for Academic and Student Success and a courtesy faculty appointment with the School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in the College of Education. Previously, he served as the first Assistant Provost for Student Success at the University of Florida. 

Dr. Mastrogiovanni has held previous positions at the University of Tennessee, Stony Brook University, and Texas A&M University in progressively responsible student success related roles. As a first-generation student himself, he is a passionate advocate for supporting students in large complex university environments. His portfolio has included academic advising, prestigious awards, curriculum creation, experiential learning, first-year and transfer experience, student orientation, academic support and intervention, first-generation programs, and student success systems and strategy. 

He has contributed to his field by publishing articles on student success, presenting at various higher education conferences, and through the creation of the Texas Conference on Student Success

He serves on the planning committee for the National Student Success Conference, as the current editor for the Journal of College Orientation, Transition, and Retention and on the editorial board for the Journal of Postsecondary Student Success.

Marisa Anne Pagnattaro, the I.W. Cousins Professor of Business and a Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Terry College of Business, was named Vice President for Instruction in 2022. She added the responsibilities of Senior Vice Provost for Academic Planning to her portfolio in 2023. Pagnattaro oversees the University’s enrollment management, student success initiatives, academic affairs, instructional infrastructure as well as student and faculty support services. This includes the offices of admissions, financial aid, registrar, curriculum, academic advising, experiential learning, and online learning. Also included are the Center for Teaching and Learning, the Office for Student Support and Achievement, the First-Year Odyssey Seminar program, and STEM education. Pagnattaro provides academic oversight to UGA’s extended campuses in Washington DC, Griffin, and Gwinnett as well as pre-health and pre-law advising offices.

Prior to being named Vice President for Instruction and Senior Vice Provost for Academic Planning, Pagnattaro served as Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. In this role, she assisted with all matters of academic administration, policy and planning, and acted on behalf of the Provost when he was not available. She chaired the UGA Arts Council and oversaw the Georgia Museum of Art, McBee Institute of Higher Education, and the Performing Arts Center. She also worked closely with the Office of Global Engagement. She jointly oversaw the UGA Griffin campus with the Dean and Director of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Before that, Pagnattaro was the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs in the Terry College. In this role, she led strategic planning efforts related to research and graduate education, directed the college’s international programs, and chaired its Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board.

Her scholarship focuses on international trade and business ethics, and she is the author or co-author of more than 30 journal articles and book chapters and numerous shorter works. She is the author of “In Defiance of the Law: From Anne Hutchinson to Toni Morrison,” which explores literary depictions of the American legal system. She is the co-author of three additional books, including a widely used business law textbook. In addition, Pagnattaro served as the editor-in-chief of the American Business Law Journal and was president of the Academy of Legal Studies in Business.

Pagnattaro was a 2016-2017 fellow of the SEC Academic Leadership Development Program and was an inaugural fellow in the University’s Women’s Leadership Development Program. She has been an active member of University Council, serving on its Executive Committee from 2012 to 2015 and on four additional committees from 2008 to 2017. Her additional interdisciplinary committee work includes having served on the Executive Committee of the UGA Teaching Academy and on the Faculty Advisory Board for the Center for Asian Studies in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Colgate University and holds a J.D. from New York Law School and Ph.D. in English from UGA.

William “Bill” Vencill is Associate Vice President of Instruction, where he oversees a range of programs within the Office of Instruction, such as Academic Honesty, Assessment, Domestic Field Study, Office of Online Learning, Washington Semester Program, ROTC programs, and the Gwinnett Campus. He has served in this role since 2017.

Previously, Dr. Vencill served as a faculty member in the Crop & Soil Sciences Department, where he conducted research and instructional programs on pest management issues. He was the Undergraduate Coordinator for 20 years before coming to the Office of Instruction.

Dr. Vencill has served in a number of university-wide roles in faculty governance including chair of the Executive Committee of University Council (2007-2008), University Curriculum (2002-2004, 2006-2008, and from 2012-2016), and chair of the Educational Affairs Committee in 2007.

Dr. Vencill also served in the provost’s office from 2008-2010 as an Academic Leadership Development Program fellow where he chaired the 2010 UGA Strategic Plan.

He is an alumni of the University of Virginia – Wise in Environmental Science and has two graduate degrees from Virginia Tech (M.S. and Ph.D. in Plant Physiology).

Gwen Gorzelsky currently serves as vice provost for academic initiatives at the University of Idaho. Previously, she served as the executive director for The Institute for Teaching and Learning (TILT) at Colorado State University. Her research interests include writing development and instruction, transfer of learning, metacognition, and literacy learning.

Nikos Varelas is the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Programs, Student Success, and Effectiveness and Liberal Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor of Physics at the University of Illinois Chicago. He works directly with the Provost and Chancellor to provide academic leadership to the university in multiple areas, including undergraduate and graduate education, academic advising, student success programming and research, academic programs, assessment, undergraduate student research, accreditation, summer programs, and transfer pathways.

Prior to his current role, Dr. Varelas has served as Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Effectiveness (2022-2024) and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs and Academic Programs (2016-2022) where he initiated and advanced an array of innovative campus wide student success programs, contributing to significant improvements in student achievement and success. Dr. Varelas also serves as the Higher Learning Commission Accreditation Liaison Officer for UIC and led the campus efforts for the recent 10-year comprehensive accreditation review. Before his Vice Provost positions, Dr. Varelas served as Associate Dean for Student Academic Affairs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Varelas’ research is in the field of high-energy particle physics exploring the fundamental constituents of the universe and their interactions. He was a member of the team of scientists who discovered the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, Switzerland in 2012. He has held several leadership positions in his field and his publication record exceeds 1,800 peer-reviewed journal articles. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a University of Illinois Scholar. Dr. Varelas earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Rochester.

Kevin E. Jackson is the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Professor of Accountancy and PwC faculty fellow. Dr. Jackson was recognized for showing a real passion for students and being driven to provide them a meaningful, personal experience at the University of Illinois and for bringing that passion for student well-being to everything he does. The Leadership in Diversity Award honors someone who demonstrates exceptional dedication to and success in promoting diversity and inclusion via research, hiring practices, courses, programs, and events.

Jackson holds a Ph.D. in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to being named Vice Provost, Jackson served as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Affairs in the Gies College of Business. As Associate Dean, he created the Access and Multicultural Engagement unit that has led the college in programming designed to foster multicultural community.

In addition, Dr. Jackson introduced a course designed to equip students to engage in civil discourse around controversial topics. He has received numerous awards and honors including the PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Faculty Fellowship, the Lester H. McKeever Jr. Outstanding Leader in Advancing Diversity Award from the Illinois CPA Society, and in 2021 was named among the Top 50 Undergraduate Business Professors in the nation by Poets&Quants.

Jackson has shown a real passion for our students and felt driven to provide them a meaningful, personal experience at the University of Illinois. He brings that passion for student well-being to everything he does. Jackson’s commitment to diversity and inclusion extends to his research. One of his papers, “Deploying ‘connectors’: A control to manage employee turnover intentions?”, examines how to tap into outgoing positive people in the workplace (connectors) to make others feel less isolated because of gender, race, ethnicity, or other distinguishing characteristics.

Dr. Tanya Uden-Holman was appointed Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education (APUE) and Dean of the University College at the University of Iowa (UI) in June 2018.  She is a clinical professor in the College of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy with a secondary appointment in the College of Nursing. Prior to her appointment in the Office of the Provost, Dr. Uden-Holman served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the UI College of Public Health for 14 years. 

In her role as APUE and Dean of the University College, Dr. Uden-Holman’s has a diverse portfolio that includes the Academic Advising Center, Pomerantz Career Center, Center for Teaching, Office of Assessment, Orientation Services, Academic Support and Retention, Honors Program, Distance and Online Education, and ROTC.  Dr. Uden-Holman currently leads the Excellence in Teaching and Learning/Student Success Strategic Plan Action and Resource Committee for the UI and plays a leadership role in multiple initiatives focused on student success. In all her activities, Dr. Uden-Holman is committed to creating an environment where every student can be successful.

Professor Warren (Ph.D. and M.A. Stanford; B.A. Yale) is a scholar of United States history. Warren's publications include The Quest for Citizenship: African American and Native American Education in Kansas, 1880–1935and “Recasting Mary McLeod Bethune’s Legacy: Permanence in the U.S. Capitol and Memorializing the Present,” Pacific Historical Review (Summer 2024).  She is co-editor of Transforming the University of Kansas:  A History, 1965-2015 and co-editor of Unequal Sisters:  A Revolutionary Reader in U.S. Women’s History, 5th edition.  Her scholarship has been supported by the Spencer Foundation/National Academy for Education, the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, American Philosophical Society, and the Roosevelt Institute.  Professor Warren was the Danish Distinguished Chair in American Studies at the University of Southern Denmark through the Fulbright Foundation and currently serves the University of Kansas as the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education.

Kirsten Turner serves as the University of Kentucky's Vice President for Student Success and chief student affairs officer. A leader with a long tenure at the University of Kentucky, she transitioned to her current position after serving in multiple associate provost roles and as an architect of the institution's strategies to improve retention and graduation rates. Prior to joining the provost's office, Turner served in various leadership roles in UK's College of Arts and Sciences. 

As a member of President Capilouto’s leadership team, Turner is committed to a student-first philosophy. Her portfolio includes areas that span the full range of student experience: from recruitment to graduation and beyond.  

Turner earned her Ph.D. at the University of Virginia, in the Center for the Study of Higher Education. Her research interests focus on the public and private benefits of higher education and the American professoriate.

Dr. T. Scott Marzilli is the Associate Provost for Student Success and Innovation at the University of Maine and the University of Maine at Machias, where he leads transformative efforts that place student success at the heart of institutional strategy. With over two decades of experience in higher education leadership, Dr. Marzilli has spearheaded data-driven initiatives that have closed performance gaps, improved retention rates, and reimagined advising, tutoring, degree completion and other student success related programs. His leadership of high-impact programs such as Research Learning Experiences (RLEs), Pathways to Careers, and Finish Strong has empowered thousands of students—especially those from non-traditional backgrounds—to persist, thrive, and graduate. A collaborative leader, he has built cross-campus partnerships to implement innovative tools such as AI chatbots, early alert systems, and personalized academic coaching.

At every step, Dr. Marzilli’s work is rooted in a deep love for students and a belief in their potential. Whether designing a success program for first-generation students, helping a student return to college after decades away, or mentoring faculty to better engage their classrooms, his guiding principle is simple: every student deserves the opportunity to succeed. His enthusiasm for student growth is matched by his relentless drive to remove barriers and create systems that adapt to students—not the other way around. For Dr. Marzilli, helping students succeed is not just part of his job, it is his guiding star! 

Carlos Jensen is a champion of experiential learning and has extensive leadership experience in public education, with a strong emphasis on teaching excellence, educational innovation and access, and enhancing the student experience. As AVC-EI, he leads our campus educational innovation efforts, designed to stimulate the development of new academic programs and infrastructures in support of our strategic priorities for diversity and access, the student experience, organizational sustainability, and more. In this capacity, Carlos oversees the Teaching + Learning Commons, which promotes educational excellence through comprehensive services for students and educators.  

He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Manfred H. M. van Dulmen is serving as UMBC’s Provost. The Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs maintain our community’s academic integrity by providing broad oversight of all instruction and research programs to ensure their quality and advancement.

Dr. van Dulmen comes to UMBC from Kent State University in Ohio, where he served as Senior Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate College. He started at Kent State as a faculty member in the Department of Psychological Sciences in 2004, and since then, has served in numerous academic leadership positions at Kent State, including Interim Department Chair and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He led Kent State through the COVID-19 pandemic and developed strategies for enhancing graduate education and supporting student mental health. He also led strategic planning in Academic Affairs, helped to enhance and promote research strength across all disciplines, and led efforts resulting in new collaborative degree programs in data science and cybersecurity, as well as in innovative micro-credential programs at Kent State.

Dr. van Dulmen is an award-winning scholar with a Ph.D. in family social science from the University of Minnesota. He has published over 100 articles and book chapters, and edited or co-edited three books. He also founded and served as editor-in-chief of the Sage Publications journal Emerging Adulthood. His research interests include adolescent and young adult relationships and experiences, externalizing behavior problems and aggression, and measurement and methodology.

The Associate Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Studies aims to ensure that students have superb educational experiences at the University of Maryland and that they can achieve academic excellence.

The work of his office facilitates students’ curricular and co-curricular activities, research undertakings, and global engagement. It also promotes increased access to higher education and degree completion. These priorities enhance student success, enrich the campus community, and contribute to the university’s national reputation.

Dean Cohen supervises the General Education program, learning outcomes assessment, living-learning programs, and campus advising policies. His office supports the retention, graduation, and instructional needs of all undergraduate students.

Dean Cohen oversees the Honors College, College Park Scholars, Letters and Sciences, Academic Achievement Programs, Orientation, Asian American Studies, Federal Fellows, Global Fellows in Washington, DC, Southern Management Leadership Program, Incentive Awards, Carillon Communities, Individual Studies, Air Force ROTC, Army ROTC, Naval ROTC, National Scholarships Office, First Year Book, Student Success Office, Pre-Transfer Advising and Pre-College Programs.

William A. Cohen was appointed Associate Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Studies in August 2015. Dean Cohen has been a faculty member since 1993. He chaired the English department from 2012 to 2015 and previously served as director of undergraduate studies and as associate chair of English. His scholarship and teaching focus on the literature and culture of the Victorian period; the history of sexuality, the body, and the senses; and literary theory and the novel. He has published numerous books and scholarly articles on these topics, including Embodied: Victorian Literature and the Senses (2009). His research covers authors such as Charles Dickens, Charlotte Brontë, George Eliot, and Anthony Trollope. His work has been supported by the Mellon Foundation, the Camargo Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the William Andrews Clark and Huntington libraries. He has lectured widely at universities and as a conference keynote speaker internationally. He holds a B.A. from Swarthmore College and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Farshid Hajir serves as Senior Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He received his undergraduate degree with high honors from Princeton in 1988 and his PhD at MIT in 1993, both in Mathematics. Following appointments as Olga and John Taussky-Todd Instructor at Caltech, and as a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at UCLA, he held an assistant professorship at the California State University, San Marcos. Following a one-year appointment as Visiting Assistant Professor at UNC Chapel Hill, Hajir joined the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at UMass Amherst in 2002 as Assistant Professor. He was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure and Professor in 2006 and 2012, respectively.

Hajir’s academic expertise in algebraic number theory encompasses the study of units and class group of number fields, extensions of global fields with restricted ramification, the arithmetic of elliptic curves, and special values of L-functions. His other interests include coding theory, and the history of mathematics. He has taught a large variety of undergraduate courses at all levels, including Calculus, Linear Algebra, Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers, Abstract Algebra, as well as graduate courses on Algebra and Algebraic Number Theory.

Hajir’s administrative duties in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics began when he was appointed Undergraduate Program Director in 2006, a position he held for five years. He then served as Associate Chair and Chair. From 2017 to 2022, Hajir served as Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, during which time he administered periodic program reviews, new degree program proposals, and a number of other projects, including interim appointments as Interim Director of University Without Walls (2020) and Interim Department Chair for Psychological and Brain Sciences (2021-2022). In his current role as Senior Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education, he oversees a number of units including the Offices of Student Success, Registrar, Career and Professional Development, Community Engagement & Service Learning, and the Learning Resource Center.

Dr. Maria Galli Stampino holds a Laurea degree in modern foreign languages from the Catholic University of Milan, an MA in American Studies from the University of Kansas, and a PhD in Italian and Comparative Literature from Stanford University.

She joined UM in 1996 as an Assistant Professor, was promoted to Associate with tenure in 2003 and to Professor in 2013. She took a one-year leave of absence to serve as Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs at the American University of Rome. She returned to serve as senior associate dean of faculty affairs and diversity in the College of Arts and Sciences. In 2020, Maria was named Dean of Undergraduate Affairs. Her scholarship focuses on Early Modern theater and performance and on women writers in Italy. She speaks four languages: Italian, English, French, and Spanish, plus reading knowledge of Latin. She loves teaching both language and culture courses, in Italian and in English, on campus and abroad.

Angela Dillard, vice provost for undergraduate education, plays a pivotal role in overseeing and advancing continuous enhancements in the university’s educational mission for a diverse community of over 32,000 undergraduate students. In collaboration with schools and colleges dedicated to undergraduate education, Vice Provost Dillard orchestrates strategic initiatives that enrich the academic experience.

At the leading edge of her responsibilities is the coordination among those at the forefront of undergraduate education, including faculty, advisors, data analysts, administrators, professional staff members – and students themselves – in order to promote academic success.  Incorporating cutting-edge research and new technologies, her office explores and seeks to implement a range of collaborative innovations and initiatives, which span a spectrum of support services, more centralized resources, and best practices culled from our own institution and from others. 

The Vice Provost also takes the lead in the Higher Learning Commission central accreditation process, championing excellence and compliance in academic standards for the university. Additionally, she leads the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education which collaborates with units across schools and colleges, Student Life, and Academic Innovation to promote the holistic well-being of students, demonstrating a commitment to fostering a supportive and nurturing learning environment. The Office also supports the work of the Advising Council at the University of Michigan as well as the UmichVotes Coalition and the Year of Democracy, Civic Empowerment, and Global Engagement.

I am a data scientist. My research teams use the sensibilities of scientists to explore and draw inferences about the world from large data sets of many kinds.

We have a long heritage of work in astrophysics. For the last 20 years, we have used survey data to publish papers on many topics: ultra-high energy cosmic rays, variable stars of many kinds, galaxy masses and morphologies, galaxy filaments, groups, and clusters, quasars, meteors, gravitational lensing, gamma-ray bursts, x-ray astronomy, and cosmology. Our main data sources have been the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, the Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment, and the Dark Energy Survey.

In recent years we have branched out, turning most of our attention to Learning Analytics: using data to understand and improve teaching and learning. We are exploring grading patterns and performance disparities both at Michigan and across the CIC, developing a variety of data driven student support tools like E²Coach through the Digital Innovation Greenhouse, an innovation space for exploring the personalization of education, and launching the NSF funded REBUILD project. REBUILD is an interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering the creation of intergenerational research teams including undergrads, grad students, postdocs, and faculty who will apply a scientific, evidence-based approach to teaching and learning in physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology and math.

We are always seeking new collaborators and encourage any undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, or faculty members whose interests overlap with ours to get in touch.

University of Minnesota Provost Gretchen Ritter announced to University leadership last week that Dr. Amy Pittenger has agreed to serve as interim vice provost for undergraduate education, starting Feb. 2, 2026 and concluding Aug. 31, 2027. 

Pittenger is well-known for her exceptional leadership and outstanding service to the University and the College of Pharmacy. Through her various leadership roles, she has helped shape strategies that advance academic excellence, foster innovation, and strengthen our commitment to student and faculty success. 

As interim vice provost, Pittenger will provide leadership and administrative oversight to the units within the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) and serve as a key member of Provost Ritter’s leadership team. She will also play an important role in campus-wide academic affairs that will include continuing to advance OUE’s strategic initiatives in alignment with the University’s next, forward-looking strategic roadmap. Following her service as interim vice provost, Pittenger will return

Dr. Ammeter’s leadership responsibilities in the Division of Outreach include regional campuses, summer school, online education, college and pre-college special programs, and professional development and lifelong learning. He also serves as the Dean for the General Studies program, which includes the bachelor of General Studies and the bachelor of University Studies degree programs and, as an Associate Provost, assists the Provost in a variety of academic matters. Dr. Ammeter holds a joint appointment as an Associate Professor of Management and Management Information Systems in the School of Business Administration. He received his Ph.D. in Organization Science from The University of Texas at Austin.

Jim Spain serves as an advocate for teaching and learning at the University of Missouri. He works with the undergraduate programs at Mizzou to support all aspects of student success.

Spain serves on the Provost’s Staff and chairs the Undergraduate Deans’ Council in addition to overseeing the Committee on Undergraduate Education (CUE) and MU’s General Education curriculum.

Spain became Mizzou’s Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies in August 2007 after seven years as assistant dean for academic programs for MU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR). He came to MU in 1990 as an assistant professor and state extension dairy scientist. Spain became an associate professor in 1996 and continued with University Extension through 1999. He became a professor of animal science in 2008 and continues to serve as a faculty member in CAFNR, as well as a faculty advisor for students in animal science.

Spain has received a multitude of awards, including MU’s prestigious Kemper Teaching Fellowship in 2001 and the Excellence in Advising Award at Mizzou in 2000. In 2024, he received the Michael C. Holen Pacesetter Award from NACADA. In 2002, he was presented the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in Higher Education and in 2007 he earned the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Spain’s research topics have included Interaction of Nutrients in Diet of Lactating Dairy Cattle, Effect of Nutrition and Environment on Animal Health, and Production and Interaction of Nutritional Status and Reproductive Performance. He has published numerous journal articles, abstracts and book chapters and served as the Principal Investigator on several grants and gifts.

Spain graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science from North Carolina State in 1984. He earned both a master’s in dairy science (1987) and a Doctor of Philosophy in animal science (1989) from Virginia Tech.

Amy Goodburn is Senior Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Undergraduate Education and Professor of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) where she leads units in advising and career development, teaching and learning, and student retention and transition. Passionate about UNL’s land-grant mission to support access and equity, in 2017 she created First Generation Nebraska, a campus initiative to support first generation scholars. Goodburn has served as a board member and president for UERU, a board member for UNIZIN, and a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission. She was UNL’s institutional lead for the APLU Powered by Publics initiative from 2018-2023 and has led UNL’s First Scholars participation since 2018. From 2001-2013, Goodburn co-coordinated UNL’s Peer Review of Teaching Project, a faculty development program to document and assess student learning which won the 2006 TIAA-CREFF Hesburgh award. Her publications include Inquiry into the College Classroom: A Model for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learningand Making Teaching and Learning Visible: Peer Review and Course Portfolios. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science from Miami University and two Masters’ degrees in English Education and English and a Ph.D. in Composition and Rhetoric from The Ohio State University.

Hillary Procknow earned her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Louisiana State University, where she focused on the philosophy of education. She also holds a master’s degree in architectural studies and an undergraduate degree in psychology, both from The University of Texas at Austin. Hillary teaches integrated reading and writing courses and specially paired non-course-based options that help students succeed in their history and writing courses. Her research interests include disparities in developmental education, continental philosophy and critical pedagogy, visual literacy, and non-cognitive factors related to student success.

Pamela Cheek, vice provost for student success, is a professor of French in UNM’s Department of Languages, Cultures and Literatures. She joined UNM in 1996 as a faculty member, and in 2018, she joined the Office of Academic Affairs as associate provost for student success. In 2024 was promoted to her current position, where she oversees the assistant vice provost for academic success.

She is responsible for various aspects of academic and student success, including academic advising, course development, and academic program assessment. Cheek works alongside the provost and senior leadership in the schools and colleges on strategic and implementation of a variety of initiatives

Cheek grew up in three different places in three different countries — San Diego, Aix-en-Provence in France and Montreal in Canada — and was attracted to UNM for the “opportunity to work with students for whom college could make a real difference” as well as the beauty of New Mexico's wilderness.

She said what keeps her motivated the most about her position is the “chance to connect people with resources and opportunities.”

Cheek earned a bachelor’s degree in literature from Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges, then a Ph.D. in comparative literature from Stanford University.

Ian F. McNeely is Professor of History and Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education in the College of Arts and Sciences at UNC Chapel Hill. The office he leads serves all 21,000 Carolina undergraduates and encompasses curriculum, general education, advising, honors, undergraduate research, summer school, assessment, and a student success center that offers coaching in writing and learning plus a set of cohort-based programs for first-generation, transfer, and underrepresented students.

McNeely's fourth book, The University Unfettered: Public Higher Education in an Age of Disruption, appeared in 2025 with Columbia University Press. It is a study of the American public research university between the Great Recession and COVID-19. He is also the author of Reinventing Knowledge: From Alexandria to the Internet, with Lisa Wolverton, as well as two prior books on nineteenth-century German liberalism. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and an A.B. from Harvard University, both in history.

From 2000 and 2024, McNeely taught at the University of Oregon, where he served as the inaugural associate dean for undergraduate education and founding executive director of the Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages.

Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of University College

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Regina McCoy is an experienced and accomplished higher education professional with a diverse background in public health education and student success. With over 25 years of service to UNC Greensboro, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to creating a student-centered environment that supports academic achievement and enhances access to education. 

As the Associate Vice Provost for Retention & Student Success, Regina is responsible for leading campus-wide initiatives that promote student success outcomes by reducing persistence barriers and fostering a sense of belonging for all students. Her collaborative approach to leadership involves partnering with academic departments, advising units, and student support services to create a student-ready campus that promotes economic development, social and cultural awareness, and academic growth.

Before her current appointment, Regina served as a faculty member in the Department of Public Health Education, where she focused on community-engaged research to address health equity issues in under-resourced and minoritized communities. Regina McCoy remains affiliated with the department. She also co-founded the UNCG Health & Wellness Coaching Program and currently serves as the Director of the Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Health & Wellness Coaching. Through this program, Regina helps people improve their quality of life by using proven behavior change techniques to elicit motivation and engage in more preventative health behaviors.

Rev. Daniel G. Groody, C.S.C., Ph.D., is vice president and associate provost for undergraduate education and a professor of theology and global affairs. His major responsibilities include advancing undergraduate teaching, research, and outreach. Fr. Groody oversees initiatives related to the curriculum, academic integrity, advising, academic support, scholarly engagement, and scholars’ programs. He also provides leadership for the Advisory Committee on the Academic Code and Policy, and the Valedictorian and Salutatorian Selection Committee.

Interim Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Student Success

University of Oregon

Associate Vice Provost for Education and Academic Planning

University of Pennsylvania 

Elaine Sia has been appointed the inaugural senior vice provost for academic excellence at the University of Rochester. Sia will be responsible for advancing the University’s academic mission by working closely with faculty, deans, and other senior leadership to strengthen the quality and impact of the University’s academic programs, research, and student success initiatives.

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Lara Lomicka Anderson (PhD, Penn State) is Professor of French and Applied Linguistics at the University of South Carolina where she served as the Graduate Director and Director of Teacher Education.  She currently serves as the Faculty Principal of Preston Residential College and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in French and in language education. She is the Past President of CALICO,  NFMLTA and AAUSC. She has published in numerous journals (The French Review, Computer Assisted Language Learning, MLA’s Profession, ADFL Bulletin, Journal of Interactive Online Learning, Language Learning & Technology, CALICO Journal, Foreign Language Annals, The Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, Contemporary Issues of Technology and Teacher Education, and System) and has edited 2 books: Teaching with Technology (Heinle/Cengage 2004) and The Next Generation: Social Networking and Online Collaboration in Foreign Language Learning (2009 published by CALICO). She also served as software review editor for the CALICO Journal, and the Technology Commission Co-Chair for AATF. She was honored (ACTFL, November 2008) with the Award for Excellence in Foreign Language Instruction Using Technology for her work in technology and in 2011 she was recognized as a Chevalier dans l'ordre des palmes academiques.    

Allison Crume was appointed Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Associate Vice President for Student Success at the University of South Florida in August 2020. She is responsible for coordinating the development and delivery of a high-quality undergraduate student experience across all campuses. Dr. Crume serves as the principal administrator of undergraduate academic programs and support services.

Prior to joining the University of South Florida, Dr. Crume served in multiple administrative roles including Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs at Florida State University. She also worked for the Board of Governors, State University System of Florida in academic and student affairs. Dr. Crume started her career in education as a high school history teacher in Roberta, Georgia.

Dr. Crume completed her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration at Florida State University. Her additional degrees are a M.A.T. in Broad Field Social Science and a B.S. in History from Georgia College & State University. She serves as affiliate faculty in the University of South Florida College of Education’s Higher Education and Student Affairs department. Her research interests include student success, women in higher education, accessibility, and campus governance.

Andrew McConnell Stott serves as Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Dean of the Graduate School. Charged with advancing academic excellence and supporting academic achievement across USC’s more than 800 programs, his areas of responsibility include curriculum development and innovation, advising, diversity and inclusion programs, experiential learning, honors, fellowships, and awards, and helping all USC students attain their academic goals, from first year to PhD.

A professor in the English department specializing in British popular culture from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries, Stott is the author of four books, including What Blest Genius? The Jubilee that Made Shakespeare (2019), which won the Marfield Prize, the National Award for Arts Writing, and The Pantomime Life of Joseph Grimaldi: Laughter, Madness and the Story of Britain’s Greatest Comedian (2009), which won the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Award for Non-Fiction, the Theater Library Association’s George Freedley Award, and the Sheridan Morley Prize for Biography. He has been a fellow of the British Academy, the American Council on Education, and the New York Public Library’s Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers.

Originally from the UK, Stott has a PhD in English Literature from Cardiff University. Prior to entering the Provost’s office, he served as USC Dornsife College Dean of Undergraduate Education and Academic Affairs where he founded the Center for Applied Learning and Life Beyond College, led the development of the “Dornsife Idea,” a strategic plan to develop a twenty-first century experience in the liberal arts, and worked to strengthen policies governing academic affairs.

Beth Avery Foster is an expert in public health and crisis communications. Her research focuses on developing communication strategies that support disadvantaged populations during health crises and campaigns. She also serves as the Director of the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations.

Dr. Ashley Purgason is a Maverick through and through, having received her BS and MS from UTA. Dr. Purgason is a toxicologist by training and received her Ph.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch. She is also a former member of the UTA Women's basketball team. She leads a unit of professional staff in a variety of activities designed to meet student academic needs from registration to graduation.

Michael Drew, PhD, serves as Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. In this role, he provides university-wide leadership on academic policy, undergraduate education and initiatives that advance student success, educational excellence and institutional effectiveness. He works closely with college leadership, faculty and other campus partners to support high-quality teaching and learning, evidence-based academic decision-making and continuous improvement across academic programs.

As Professor of Neuroscience, Dr. Drew maintains an active research program investigating how the brain forms and retrieves memories, with a special emphasis on how traumatic memories are formed and can be suppressed. Dr. Drew’s research has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and has been recognized through awards including a NARSAD Young Investigator Award, the Revson Foundation Senior Fellowship in Biomedical Science and the Pavlovian Research Award from the Pavlovian Society. Dr. Drew’s teaching in neuroscience has been recognized through The University of Texas President’s Associates Teaching Award and The University of Texas System’s Regent’s Outstanding Teaching Award.

Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Drew served as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education in the College of Natural Sciences, where he oversaw a broad portfolio that included curriculum design, advising and student support, instructional funding, experiential learning and student programs. In that role, he partnered extensively with departments and faculty to improve high-enrollment courses, expand undergraduate research and mentorship opportunities, and improve support for career learning.

Dr. William Nichols is a scholar of Spanish culture and an experienced university administrator.

In August 2025, Nichols joined The University of Texas at Dallas, where, as dean, he leads a department whose mission is to promote student success and eliminate barriers to that success for all undergraduates.

Programs he oversees include the Student Success Center, Pre-Law Advising Center, Health Professions Advising Center, Student Outreach and Academic Retention, Graduation Help Desk, Comet Cupboard, Basic Needs Resource Center, First-Generation Student Programs, Freshman Mentor and Transfer Mentor programs, First-Year Leader Program, Academic Bridge Program, Undergraduate Success Scholars, Nebula Scholars, Comet Scholars Program, and Texas Leadership Scholars Program.

Nichols’ philosophy includes empowering students to be successful, especially in a world that is rapidly embracing artificial intelligence.

His research is focused on urban space, tourism and globalization as it is represented and explored in 20th- and 21st-century Spanish culture. His areas of interest include environmental humanities, popular culture studies, museum studies, and comparative and trans-Atlantic approaches to Hispanic literature and culture.

He served as president of the Association of Departments of Foreign Languages and was a member of the Council of Directors for National Foreign Language Resource Centers.

His most recent book, The Paradox of Paradise: Creative Destruction and the Rise of Urban Coastal Tourism in Contemporary Spanish Culture, was published by Vanderbilt University Press in 2023.

Over his more than 20-year academic career at Georgia State University, he was a professor of Spanish cultural studies, associate dean of the Honors College, the founding director of the university’s Center for Urban Language Teaching and Research, and chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures in the College of Arts & Sciences. He previously taught at Michigan State University and Texas A&M International University.

Nichols earned a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology and Spanish and a Master of Arts in Spanish from the University of Notre Dame. He earned his PhD in Spanish literature and culture from Michigan State University.

Administrative leadership for Academic Affairs units in the Office of the Provost and liaison and partner with Academic Affairs units across campus; Student Success Working Group and mentoring programs; and policies related to student travel and RA/TA positions.

Dr. Toni L. Blum, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Curriculum Effectiveness and Improvement, manages learning outcomes assessment, University accreditation, and the curriculum unit at UTEP. In her role, she works closely with faculty and staff in reviewing assessment and evaluation data regarding the effectiveness of their academic and co-curricular programs, to provide consultative advice regarding the implementation of changes in response to that data.

Dr. Blum completed her doctoral degree in psychology from Ohio State University. Her research focused on  and improving metacognitive skills in undergraduate students. She worked as a Department Chair, Associate Dean, and a University Assessment Coordinator before joining UTEP in 2013 as the Assistant Provost for Accreditation and Assessment. She presents frequently at national conferences, both about the management of accreditation processes and about the use of assessment in continuous improvement.

Senior Vice Provost for Student Success & Academic Affairs, Dean of University College

University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley

Senior Vice Provost for Student Success

University of Texas at San Antonio

Dr. Swain considers it a privilege to serve The University of Texas at Tyler as Associate Provost for Undergraduate and Online Education. Dr. Swain began her work as Associate Provost in June 2018. Before her move into Academic Affairs, Dr. Swain served as Associate Dean of the College of Education and Psychology and the Director of the School of Education.

Prior to coming to UT Tyler, Dr. Swain served in faculty and administrative roles at the University of Florida. She is originally from Texas and began her teaching career in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District.

Dr. T. Chase Hagood serves as the Vice Provost for Student Success, bringing a unique perspective as a first-generation college graduate from the working class of rural America. His own transformative educational journey fuels his dedication to enhancing academic experiences and outcomes for all students. Dr. Hagood is recognized nationally for his historical scholarship on early America as well as his leadership in higher education, especially in driving innovative student success initiatives and undergraduate education.

Hagood has championed policy reforms within the University of Utah and the Utah System of Higher Education that aim to dismantle barriers to higher education, making it more accessible and equitable to all Utahns. Redesigns within the U have focused on championing a shared responsibility framework—Navigate U—to ensure every student can have an exceptional educational experience from day one to graduation; leading the campus-wide implementation of EAB Navigate and other educational technologies to democratize the U's data infrastructures; building coalitions across the campus for a General Education Reimagined all the while ​creating supportive pathways for first-gen, minoritized, and low-income students. His efforts have fortified the university’s commitment to academic excellence and access, ensuring that every student has opportunities to succeed.

Dr. Hagood’s approach to education reform integrates twenty-first century pedagogies, comprehensive and high-impact support systems, and robust academic programs. This holistic model not only prepares students for professional success but also instills in them a resilient spirit to navigate and thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape. As a leader, educator, and advocate, Dr. Hagood continues to inspire change and progress through his visionary policies and personal commitment to student success.

A sought-after speaker and consultant, Dr. Hagood addresses critical topics such as educational innovation, student engagement, faculty development, and the effectiveness of institutional innovation. His accolades and awards reflect his profound impact on the public educational sector and his unwavering resolve to ensure that higher education serves as America's most significant vehicle for social mobility, impact, and change.

Dr. Hagood serves as the institutional lead for engagements with the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U), Powered by Publics campaign of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), Undergraduate Education at Research Universities (UERU), Strada Education Foundation, Qualtrics for Higher Education, and as co-liaison to the University Innovation Alliance (UIA).

Dr. Jennifer Dickinson received her B.A. in 1992 from Bryn Mawr College, where she majored in Anthropology and Russian, and two M.A.'s, one in Anthropology, and another in Russian and East European Studies from the University of Michigan (1995; 1996). She received her Ph.D. in Anthropology with a specialization in Linguistic Anthropology from the University of Michigan in 1999. She has done research in several regions of the former Soviet Union, and currently focuses on Eastern Europe, and in particular, Ukraine. Her broad academic interests cover many areas of cultural and linguistic anthropology, including storytelling, conversational pragmatics, language ideologies, the anthropology of Eastern Europe, material culture studies, and the anthropology of work. Professor Dickinson currently serves as the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.

Dr. Dickinson's dissertation, entitled "Life on the Edge: Understanding Social Change through Everyday Conversation in a Ukrainian Border Community," combined these broad interests, exploring the ways in which everyday conversational interactions among members of a dialect-speaking border community contributed to these villagers' emerging understandings of social and economic change in post-Soviet Ukraine. One of the main foci of her dissertation, and of her continuing work in linguistic and cultural anthropology, is the nature of conversational storytelling, from the level of grammatical structure to the nature of topic shift and the role of storytelling in creating social cohesion and social meaning. In addition to continuing to study the role of personal narrative the transformation of working life in the Zakarpattia region of Ukraine, Dr. Dickinson has established a separate line of research into the linguistics and semiotics of advertising. Her most recent project focuses on alphabet mixing and graphic design in Ukrainian outdoor advertising, offering a linguistic anthropological approach to the transformation of public space in the city of Lviv. Her blog "Language, Culture and Smak" explores topics related to language, culture and food in Eastern Europe. Dr. Dickinson also serves as the faculty Director of UVM's Center for Teaching and Learning. Dr. Dickinson also served as director of the Russian and East European Studies Program from 2010-2014

Among the courses Prof. Dickinson has taught at UVM are Linguistic Anthropology; Sociolinguistics; Anthropology of Eastern Europe; Linguistics and Archaeology; Alcohol and Culture; Business Anthropology; Storytelling in Cross-Cultural Perspective; Language, Gender and Sexuality; Museum Anthropology and Modernity and Material Culture.

Brie Gertler is the interim executive vice president and provost of the University of Virginia. As the chief academic officer, she oversees the University’s teaching and research activities and directs the academic administration of the schools, the library, art museums, public service activities, numerous University centers, and foreign study programs. In addition to her appointment as interim provost, Gertler is Commonwealth Professor of Philosophy.

As associate provost for undergraduate education, Roksa collaborates with academic and student affairs units across Grounds to ensure that all undergraduates have opportunities to thrive at UVA.

The work of Undergraduate Education is grounded in UVA’s commitment to “development of the full potential of talented students from all walks of life” and “universal dedication to excellence and affordable access.”

Roksa is currently leading initiatives related to academic advising and student success in STEM, as well as collaborating on efforts to support transfer students and leverage data to inform decision-making. Roksa serves as a liaison to student affairs and has responsibility for University activities related to advising, academic support, undergraduate research and fellowships.

Roksa is a sociologist who studies students’ experiences in higher education, and her recent scholarship has focused on STEM disciplines. 

Roksa earned her Ph.D. in sociology from New York University (NYU) and B.A. in psychology from Mount Holyoke College. 

He is a professor of history and served as associate dean for social sciences in Arts & Sciences from 2018-2022. Christian has written books on American Indian law and land claims; a global history of tuberculosis and HIV; and a synthesis of the history of pandemics over the last thousand years (written before the covid-19 pandemic).

Michaelann Jundt works across campus to evolve programs and improve systems for students of all backgrounds. She has been instrumental in transforming conversations and partnerships dedicated to the advancement of leadership education, transfer student success, and community engagement. Her current UAA portfolio includes supporting advising, first year and academic support programs, merit scholarships, and the resilience lab. Michaelann teaches courses in the Leadership Minor and provides oversight for the General Studies curriculum. She provides service to several University governing bodies including faculty and community engagement councils as well as committees in service of the decennial review process for academic programs. Representing the University, she serves on the Joint Transfer Council, a multi-sector standing committee that works to improve and advance student transfer in Washington state.

Edward Taylor is vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs at the University of Washington where he oversees educational opportunities that advance and deepen the undergraduate experience. Programs in Undergraduate Academic Affairs (UAA) work in concert with one another to:

• Create and support academic opportunities that have a lasting impact in undergraduates’ futures;
• Provide leadership to create a supportive University ecosystem for undergraduate learning and success;
• Advocate for undergraduate education in shaping University policy; and
• Serve as a local catalyst and national leader for innovation in undergraduate education.

Dr. Taylor is a professor in the UW’s College of Education, which he joined in 1995. His research and teaching center on comparative education in the U.S. and South Africa, moral dimensions of education and integrative education, and leadership in education and social justice. He has written, taught and presented extensively on these topics. He co-edited Foundations of Critical Race Theory in Education, and his co-authored books include Transformative Conversations: A Guide to Mentoring Communities Among Colleagues in Higher Education and Inside the Undergraduate Teaching Experience: The University of Washington’s Growth in Faculty Teaching Study. Dr. Taylor has also authored multiple journal articles.

Dr. Taylor co-chaired, with Vice President for Minority Affairs & Diversity and University Diversity Officer Rickey Hall, the tri-campus Race & Equity Initiative.

Taylor earned his Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Washington. He earned a master’s degree in psychology and bachelors’ degrees in sociology and in psychology at Gonzaga University.

Active in the community, Taylor is a founding board member of Rainier Scholars, a scholastic preparation program for high-achieving children of color; serves on the board of the Seattle Foundation; is a trustee of Gonzaga University; is on the Seattle mayor’s Education Summit Advisory Group; and also serves on the boards of College Spark Washington and the Rwanda Girls Initiative. Nationally, Taylor is a member of the faculty of the Academy for Contemplative and Ethical Leadership, which is part of the Mind and Life Institute. Internationally, he has worked with South African township schools and school leaders to help form a coalition of schools to serve children living in township communities. In 2014, Taylor received the Distinguished Graduate Award from the College of Education.

Branchaw is an associate professor of Kinesiology in the School of Education, and served as the director of the Wisconsin Institute for Science Education and Community Engagement (WISCIENCE) for 11 years before becoming the interim vice provost for teaching and learning. Her research focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative approaches to science education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, with special emphasis on research training, research mentoring, assessment of student learning, and broadening participation in STEM. Her teaching focuses on human physiology for undergraduate students and professional development in teaching for graduate students.

Dr. Michelle L. Hilaire serves as Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VP-UG) and as a clinical professor in the School of Pharmacy. As the VP-UG, she provides strategic leadership to enhance undergraduate programs, oversees student policies and academic success initiatives, and ensures timely degree completion through collaboration with deans and advisors. The role includes administering the University Studies Program, managing course offerings to optimize efficiency, fostering partnerships with community colleges, and supporting ROTC programs. Additionally, the VP-UG leads assessment and accreditation efforts and works closely with faculty and administrative leaders to develop policies and improve undergraduate education.

Michelle previously served as the Interim Dean of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Wyoming, bringing over two decades of experience in higher education leadership, clinical practice, and student engagement. Throughout her tenure, Dr. Hilaire has held progressive leadership positions, including Senior Associate Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in the School of Pharmacy. Her career has been defined by a commitment to student success, academic excellence, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Dr. Hilaire’s leadership extends beyond administrative functions; she continues to engage directly with students by teaching a Freshman Year Experience course and sponsoring a Living Learning Community. These initiatives reflect her dedication to fostering inclusive and supportive environments that promote student growth both inside and outside the classroom.

Michelle holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Duquesne University (2002) and maintains board certifications in pharmacotherapy and ambulatory care. She is a Fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, demonstrating her continued leadership and impact in the field of health sciences education. Her vision for undergraduate education at the University of Wyoming focuses on promoting interdisciplinary learning, expanding access to academic support services, and strengthening partnerships with community colleges to enhance transfer pathways.

Vice President & Chief of Staff to the Provost

Utah State University

Harrison Kleiner is Vice Provost for General Education and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Utah State University. He grew up in Colorado, studied politics and philosophy at Cornell College, followed by an M.A. (Boston College) and a Ph.D. (Purdue) in philosophy.

Harrison teaches and writes on issues in perennial philosophy, theology, political thought, liberal education, and the great books. He is deeply involved in general education, leading institutional efforts in curricular and assessment reform in the first-year experience and general education. He chairs or serves on several state higher education system committees and consults nationally with faculty on general education, assessment, and excellence in teaching.

In his free time he can be found reading Tolkien or a fairy tale or otherwise skiing or hiking in the mountains. He lives happily in North Logan with his wife (a USU psychologist), 4 daughters, and his loyal dog.

Kathy Friedman is currently Associate Professor and Vice-Chair in the Department of Biological Sciences, having previously served for many years as the Director of Graduate Studies in Biological Sciences. Her research interests involve DNA replication and DNA repair in a yeast model system and she is a member of the Genome Maintenance group in the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center. Kathy is available to meet predoctoral students and postdoctoral fellows.

Allison Schachter is Professor of English, Jewish Studies, and Russian and East European Studies. She is an award-winning scholar of modern Jewish literature and culture. Her research interests include diaspora, transnational and world literary cultures, gender studies, and minority cultures. Her first book, Diasporic Modernisms: Hebrew and Yiddish Literatures in the Twentieth Century (Oxford 2012) traced the shared diasporic histories of Hebrew and Yiddish modernism. Her second book Women Writing Jewish Modernity, 1919-1939 (Northwestern 2022), was awarded the 2024 MLA Fenia and Yaakov Leviant Memorial Prize in Yiddish Studies and was a National Jewish Book Award finalist. The book revises the history of Hebrew and Yiddish modernism by foregrounding women’s voices. She is currently working on a new project on mid-century women intellectuals, which examines how African American and Jewish women writers theorized the postwar moment from feminist and leftist perspectives. She is an avid translator of Yiddish literature. Together with Jordan Finkin she translated From the Jewish Provinces: The Selected Stories of Fradl Shtok (Northwestern 2021), which was awarded the 2022 MLA Fenia and Yaakov Leviant Memorial Prize in Yiddish Studies and was a finalist for the Modernist Studies Association translation prize. In 2024 she was awarded an NEH Translation and Scholarly Edition grant for her current translation project, “The Storyteller from Minsk: The Selected Works of Rokhl Brokhes.”

She received her B.A. with honors in Comparative Literature from Stanford University in 1996. She was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in 2007 to pursue research on Hebrew literature at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She completed her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature at U. C. Berkeley in 2006. She has received grants in support of her work from the Graduate Division at the University of California, Berkeley, the National Foundation of Jewish culture, Vanderbilt University, the National Endowment for the Humanities, The Yiddish Book Center, and the Simon Dubnow Institute.

Dr. Arroyo leverages the scope of Academic Affairs and collaborates with academic deans from all VCU schools/colleges and other VCU academic leaders to ensure that University College serves all VCU students, regardless of major. Learn more from joint 2025 Strategic Plan.

Jill Sible, associate vice provost for undergraduate education and director of the Academy for Experiential Learning at Virginia Tech, has been named the university’s next vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs, effective June 25.

As vice provost, Sible will work closely with college deans and associate deans to coordinate programs and services that meet the varying needs of the undergraduate student community. She will also establish and implement short and long-range strategic goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures; evaluate and monitor programmatic and operational effectiveness, and effect changes required for continuous improvement.

Education:
Ph.D. in Counselor Education, University of Florida, 2002
Ed.S. in Counseling, University of Florida, 1996
M.Ed. in Counseling, University of Florida, 1996
B.S. in Psychology, University of Florida, 1993

Research and Special Interests:
Health disparities in Latino adolescents; Multicultural considerations on counseling and counselor education; school counseling and diverse populations; and college access of Latino adolescents and their families.

The Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement (DAESA) leads institutional efforts to academically engage students from all majors and provide a high-impact education throughout their undergraduate degree program. Presently, DAESA consists of the the Academic Success and Career (ASCC); Distinguished Scholarship Programs; First-Year Programs; Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP); Office of Academic Engagement; Office of Assessment for Curricular Effectiveness; Office of Undergraduate Research; Transfer Center for Policy and Resources; the WSU Writing Program; and University Common Requirements (UCORE).

He was previously the associate dean for undergraduate education in the College of Veterinary Medicine, a role he served in for nine years, and he is an associate professor of biochemistry/biophysics in the School of Molecular Biosciences. Davis is also co-director of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s B.S. to Ph.D. Fast Track Program in the School of Molecular Biosciences. He joined the WSU faculty in 2001 and has earned numerous awards for his teaching, faculty service, and academic advising throughout his career.

Davis earned his Ph.D. at Northwestern in Chemistry and was the Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow at Technical University of Munich from 1999-2001. He has given numerous invited presentations and workshops on student learning and student success in recent years. Most recently, Davis presented to the College for Life Science Education at Ohio State a seminar titled: “Prosociality – How Structured Cooperative Learning Environments Benefit All Students and Narrow Achievement Gaps.”

Jen is the vice provost for educational initiatives and professor of earth and planetary sciences.   Her administrative duties include enhancing equity in undergraduates’ academic opportunities, experiences and outcomes; deepening student research experiences; assessing educational programs; and fostering innovation in educational programs and practices. As a faculty member, Jennifer’s research focuses on understanding the role the environment has played in human societies in the archaeological past, particularly where water resource availability was a critical issue.  

Dr. Christine Jackson is the Vice Provost for Partnerships & Workforce at Wayne State University, where she leads initiatives to strengthen academic partnerships, workforce development, and global engagement. She oversees key programs, including College to Career, Career Services, university-industry collaborations, international programs, study abroad, the English Language Institute, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), community service and learning, and executive and professional development. Her work advances WSU’s strategic plan by fostering student career readiness, strengthening community and industry partnerships, and positioning the university as a leader in workforce innovation.

Previously, Dr. Jackson served as Chair of the Management Department in the Mike Ilitch School of Business. She has provided leadership training across WSU and contributed to initiatives such as the Detroit Police Department Leadership Academy, the Academy Leadership Academy (ALA), Gender Equity Advances Retention in STEM (GEARS), the Mandela Fellowship Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), and the Quality Assurance & Improvement Council. She is an active member of Wayne Women LEAD, WSU’s Chapter of the MI-ACE Women’s Network.

Dr. Jackson’s research, published in top-tier management journals, focuses on leadership, trust, fairness, and team effectiveness. She has served on editorial boards and previously held faculty and leadership roles at Purdue University.

She holds a Ph.D. in Management from the University of Florida and a B.S. in Psychology from Michigan State University. She has completed leadership training from HERS, Penn State, Harvard, Cornell University, and MI-ACE.

Jennifer Frederick has served as Yale University’s associate provost for academic initiatives since 2022. She is an expert in interdisciplinary and inclusive teaching practices in higher education and a widely respected university leader. She provides leadership for Yale on teaching and learning matters and shapes the strategic priorities of the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning in alignment with university’s vision and mission

As founding executive director of the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning in 2014, she has been instrumental in the Center’s creation and support of all aspects of student learning and faculty pedagogy. Her leadership of the Poorvu Center has also included building the Faculty Teaching Initiatives team, the Academic Strategies Program, and Educational Program Assessment service, and expanding to space in Poorvu North. Jenny oversees offices including an innovation center, the registrar’s office, and university financial aid. In 2024, Jenny participated in the Yale Taskforce on Artificial Intelligence to develop the institution’s AI priorities and make recommendations for investments to improve educational policy and provide curricular guidance. Building on that work, she now leads the university-wide effort to implement the Task Force’s recommendations.

Beyond Yale, Jenny served for many years as the principal investigator on an award from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to support a national STEM faculty development initiative, the Summer Institutes on Scientific Teaching. She designs and leads mentorship training for Howard Hughes Medical Institute scientists and other organizations.

Jenny holds a BA in Chemistry from Cornell University and a PhD in chemistry from Yale. She held teaching and research-focused faculty positions at the University of Bridgeport and Western Connecticut State University before returning to Yale in 2007 to focus on educational development.

Deputy Dean of Yale College and Dean of Undergraduate Education

Yale University

Deputy Dean of Yale College and Dean of Undergraduate Education

Yale University