A Message from the Provost: Week of 8.04.25
Published August 04, 2025
Leading Together:
A Message from the Provost
Dear Colleagues,
As we step into August and prepare for the start of another academic year, I want
to take a moment to say how honored I am to return as Interim Provost. I previously
served in this role in 2020, and while much has changed since then, one thing remains
constant: my deep appreciation for the incredible work you do every day.
My goals in this role are clear yet essential: to enhance communication regarding
our priorities and decisions, strengthen shared governance, and foster a campus environment
grounded in trust and teamwork. I am committed to empowering our vice provosts, deans,
and department heads and genuinely listening to our faculty, staff, and students.
This is how we build a stronger UW.
I also want to be clear about this: I always make time to connect. Please don’t hesitate
to reach out or engage with me or anyone on the Academic Affairs team. We are here
for you, and we value your partnership.
A special shout-out to Dr. Scott Turpen, who has returned to his role as Dean of the
College of Arts and Sciences after serving as Interim Provost. I am especially grateful
for his generosity and leadership during the transition, and for helping me get back
up to speed so quickly. Thank you, Scott.
Supporting the professional growth of our faculty should always be a priority. The
Provost’s Office will be exploring opportunities to expand faculty development programming
and identify funding to help make those opportunities more accessible. When faculty
grow, our students grow, and when our students grow, we all grow.
Move-in Day is just around the corner, on Friday, August 15! It’s one of the most
joyful, chaotic, and hopeful days of the year. If you’re able, I encourage you to
welcome our new and returning students, help out where needed, and be part of the
community spirit that makes UW such a special place.
As we gear up for the semester, we’re launching our Fall 2025 low-enrollment course
process. The aim is to identify under-enrolled courses now and work collaboratively
to boost enrollment before final decisions are made. Deans and department heads should
be working closely with faculty and advisors to determine next steps and reach out
to students.
We will soon share updates on two important academic searches: the inaugural Dean
of the School of Computing and an internal search for the Vice Provost and Dean of
the School of Graduate Education. Both positions are critical to advancing our institutional
priorities and supporting our students, faculty, and staff. More details will be announced
shortly.
As always, thank you for your dedication and your care for our students and for one
another. I am excited to begin this year together, and I look forward to engaging
with you soon.
Warmly,
Anne
