A Message from the Provost: Week of 8.18.25

 
Dear Colleagues, 
 
This past week, our Academic Affairs team has been busy connecting with students and colleagues across campus. We joined New Faculty Orientation and Saddle Up activities to help welcome our newest faculty and students, shared a meal with students in the brand-new North Hall dining facility, and even took to the skies with the UW Army ROTC Cowboy Battalion for a helicopter ride that gave us a whole new perspective on our beautiful campus. These moments of engagement remind me how much the student experience and our academic mission are intertwined.
       
Photos: 1 (credit to VP Michelle Hilaire) 2 (credit to Chief of Staff Kelsey Kyne 3 (credit to VP Michelle Hilaire)

 

This week we are welcoming both new and returning faculty as we prepare for the start of classes next Tuesday. We are excited for the energy a new semester brings, and we extend a special note of thanks to the College of Law, which began its fall semester yesterday.
 
Dr. Rick Fisher, Director of Communications across the Curriculum and a colleague in LeaRN and the English department, highlights two faculty writing programs sponsored by UW Communication across the Curriculum with support from the Provost's Office. The first, the UW Academic Writing Fellows program, aims to boost scholarly productivity through mentoring, retreats, writing groups, and community activities. The CFA application is due Wednesday, Sept. 3, and you can find information here. The second, the AWF Faculty Grant-Writing Community, targets faculty from units without a strong grant culture or those new to grant writing, with applications due Monday, August 25 (more information here). Questions can be directed to co-facilitators Rick Fisher, April French, or Kayla Burd.
 
As we begin the semester, I want to introduce you to the Academic Affairs leadership team. I am fortunate to work with this team of dedicated colleagues who are committed to faculty success, student learning, and institutional excellence.

 
Mandy Gifford, Chief of Staff to the Provost
Oversees Academic Affairs operations, communications, and strategic projects; serves as a liaison to colleges and campus partners.
 
Dave Bagley, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Leads reappointment, tenure, and promotion processes; annual reviews; and policy improvements that reduce barriers to faculty success in partnership with Faculty Senate committees and campus stakeholders.
 
Isa Helfgott, Vice Provost for Global Engagement
Guides UW’s internationalization strategy and oversees International Students & Scholars, Education Abroad, the Center for Global Studies, and the International Academic English/ELC programs.
 
Michelle Hilaire, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
Oversees undergraduate academic policies and student success initiatives; the University Studies Program; assessment and accreditation; course planning; community college partnerships; and ROTC coordination.

Carolyn Pepper, Interim Vice Provost for Graduate Education
Oversees the School of Graduate Education, graduate policies and procedures, graduate assistantship and fellowship funding, graduate student recruitment, professional development, and graduate student life.

Matt Griswold, Vice Provost for Online and Continuing Education
Advances online/hybrid program quality, development, marketing, and sustainability; supports instructional technology and noncredit/professional education.
 
Shelley Dodd, Interim Vice Provost for Enrollment Management 
Leads the university’s enrollment strategy and operations, collaborating across units to strengthen recruitment, admissions, and student yield.
 
Nevin Aiken, Special Assistant to the Provost for Experiential Education
Coordinates UW’s experiential learning strategy, including internships, community-engaged learning, and high-impact practices, working with colleges and external partners to expand opportunities for students.

 

Please don't hesitate to reach out to our team for questions, and we all look forward to the year ahead and to seeing many of you on campus. 

 

With appreciation,
Anne