Provost/Chief Academic Officers

Lebanon Valley College has selected Dr. Monica Cowart as their new vice president of academic affairs effective July 1, 2019.  Dr. Cowart is currently the vice provost at Merrimack College and will bring with her to campus extensive leadership experience with graduate and online education, enrollment management, assessment, strategic planning, global education, honors programming, budgeting, faculty hiring, and fundraising. She has spent nearly 20 years at Merrimack, where she rose from professor to department chair, associate dean, and vice provost. During that time, Merrimack has grown from an enrollment of 2,500 to more than 4,500. Last year, Dr. Cowart was named a fellow of the American Council on Education (ACE). Dr. Cowart received her bachelor’s degree in philosophy with research honors from Illinois Wesleyan University, a graduate certificate in women’s studies from the University of Georgia, and a master’s in counseling psychology from Lesley University. She completed her doctorate in the philosophy of psychology with a dissertation on embodied cognition at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She joins LVC with tenure and full professorship status. For more information: https://www.lvc.edu/news/details/dr-monica-cowart-named-next-vice-president-of-academic-affairs/

Baylor University has named Nancy W. Brickhouse, Ph.D., as provost following a national search to help lead the institution toward its goal of becoming the next preeminent Christian research university.

The University of the District of Columbia Board of Trustees recently approved the appointment of Dr. Lawrence T. Potter, Jr., as UDC's Chief Academic Officer, effective February 1, 2019. Dr. Potter currently serves as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of La Verne. Prior to his work at the University of La Verne, he served as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Jackson State University. He has also held leadership positions at Allegheny College, the University of St. Thomas, and Western Michigan University. Dr. Potter earned a B.A. in English, Religion, and Philosophy from Stillman College, and he received an M.A. and Ph.D. in English - Literature and Criticism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

The University of Minnesota Crookston search committee has placed Dr. John Hoffman as the vice chancellor for academic and student affairs of the university, scheduled to begin July 30, 2018. Dr. Hoffman comes from California State University, Fullerton, where he has served as chair of the Department of Education Leadership since 2013 and as director of the Doctor of Educational Leadership Program since 2012.

Marshall University President Jerome A. Gilbert today announced that Dr. Jaime (pronounced “Hi-meh”) R. Taylor, dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at Austin Peay State University, has been named Marshall’s next provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Taylor’s appointment is effective July 1.

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Graceland University has selected Dr. Jill Rhea as their new Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty. Dr. Rhea is currently the Dean of Online, Site and Graduate Programs along with a Professor of Communication Studies for Buena Vista University.

The Saint Xavier University search committee has appointed Dr. James M. MacLaren as the new provost of the university. Dr. MacLaren serves as the Dean of Newcomb-Tulane College at Tulane University.

The Mount Aloysius College search committee has appointed Patricia Ireland as the new Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Ireland currently serves as Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine. 

University of Montana President Seth Bodnar announced that Dr. Jon Harbor will serve as the new executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. Harbor currently serves as associate vice provost for teaching and learning and as executive director of digital education at Purdue University.

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The Saint Edward's University Provost Search Committee has concluded their search and appointed Dr. Andrew Prall to assume the position, effective July 1, 2018. Dr. Prall comes to St. Edward's having served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana.