Office of the Provost

Members of the UW Community,

There has been discussion on campus about potential new laws pertaining to UW.  Recently, you have probably seen the message from President Seidel regarding House Bill 147.  I am following up now to give you more specific information about how this bill connects to our scholarly activities and how the Academic Affairs team will be working with campus as we apply the requirements of HB 147 to the university. First, let me thank you all for your hard work on behalf of the State of Wyoming and more specifically for your contributions to the mission of the University of Wyoming.   
 
In case you have not read the final text of House Bill 147, I encourage you to do so, and please see President Seidel's recent message which summarizes the bill’s requirements regarding institutional discrimination and diversity, equity and inclusion.  It was signed into law by Governor Gordon on March 4 and will become effective on July 1 of this year.  
 
The bill defines “Diversity, equity or inclusion” as “any program, activity or policy that promotes differential or preferential treatment of individuals or classifies individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin.”   This definition of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” is functionally equivalent to the current UW statement for Equal Opportunity and Prohibited Efforts. 
 
HB 147’s definition and prohibition of “Institutional discrimination” is also consistent with the existing UW statement.  The Equal Opportunity and Prohibited Efforts Statement already prohibits programs, activities or functions that “promote the position that the action of a group or an individual is inherently, unconsciously, or implicitly biased, privileged or inherently superior or inferior on the basis of color, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation.” One significant way in which the new law is distinct from UW's existing statement is that classrooms are not excluded, and no courses can be required that promote “institutional discrimination.”  
 
As stated by President Seidel in his recent message, our focus will be on ensuring that UW remains a place where our students benefit from knowledge, critical thinking and deep dialogue, including on subjects of race, color, sex, ethnicity, and national origin.  Our emphasis is, and will continue to be, about inquiry, critique, and learning rather than advocacy, censorship, diatribe, and cancel culture. We will also adhere to UW Regulation 2-15 on Academic Freedom: "While academic freedom protects the rights of academic personnel to teach according to their expertise and in discussing their subject, they have a responsibility to ensure that their teaching is effective and consistent with the standards of the discipline, understanding that disciplines may have diverse points of view on any given subject.  Teaching may involve controversial material; however, academic personnel also have the responsibility to respect others’ freedom to express disagreement and alternate opinions.  Academic freedom does not negate the rights of students and the public to disagree with academic personnel’s work, although students are expected to learn material with which they may disagree.” 
 
The Academic Affairs team is working diligently to provide guidance and opportunities for dialogue about how HB 147 applies to our curriculum and instruction.  I will be communicating soon to faculty about our next steps.
 
 
Sincerely,
J. Scott Turpen
Interim Provost

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to highlight a recent campus message about the call for applications for the UW Faculty Leadership Institute (FLI) for the 2025-26 academic year. Co-sponsored by the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost, this program aims to support faculty in developing leadership skills, gaining insights into university governance, and providing career growth opportunities. I participated in a similar program early in my career and found the information extremely useful.  Eligible faculty include tenured professors, recently promoted full professors, faculty with senior and associate fixed-term rolling contracts, and department chairs/heads. From August to May, participants will engage in monthly sessions covering leadership development, networking, and career advancement. To apply, submit your application at this link by March 24, 2025. I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your leadership journey at UW.  
 
As recent developments have sparked discussions nationwide and on our campus, a note in the introductory letter from the new chief of the U.S. Forest Service, UW alumnus Tom Schultz, serves as a reminder of what the university is all about. He described a class taught by our venerable Professor Gregg Cawley and former U.S. Interior Secretary James Watt, also a UW alum, with this conclusion: “(Cawley) and Watt had different views about public lands and conservation, and their respectful dialogue and classroom engagement taught me to think critically about land management issues and the role that values, science and politics plays in what we do.”
 
As a public institution dedicated to learning and open inquiry, we are committed to free speech, academic freedom, and respectful engagement in civil discourse. We support the right to express viewpoints through peaceful and respectful dialogue and work to include all perspectives in our classrooms and on our campus, with a spirit of inquiry instead of advocacy.
 
The First Amendment is a fundamental pillar of our democracy, and civil discourse is essential to our mission of fostering critical thinking and intellectual growth. Respecting one another’s viewpoints, even in disagreement, strengthens our academic community and creates an environment where ideas can be freely exchanged. I encourage you to explore more about UW's Freedom of Expression, Intellectual Freedom, and Constructive Dialogue website here.
 
As we navigate complex and sometimes challenging discussions, we can work together to uphold the values of open inquiry, mutual respect, and academic excellence. The University of Wyoming is a place where we all share the responsibility to cultivate an environment where every individual feels heard and valued.
 

Sincerely, 

J. Scott Turpen
Interim Provost

Dear Colleagues,

Last Friday, I was thrilled to attend the UW Art Museum’s Spring Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony for the Juried Student Exhibition. A fantastic collection of student artwork in various forms was on display, including photography, painting, ceramics, and more. The Office of Academic Affairs sponsored several scholarships, and I was there to honor these students and present their awards. Congratulations to Ian Robinson, Liberty Araas, Shelbee McFadden, and Zachary Agee. 
 
The call for nominations for the annual Stewardship Award is now open until March 24, 2025. This award will honor the leadership of a University of Wyoming faculty member who has excelled in building relationships and stewarding alumni and/or donors. The financial award will benefit the faculty member, their college or department, and another deserving unit on campus. The purpose of the award is to enhance knowledge and awareness of effective stewardship practices and relationship-building opportunities while giving special recognition to faculty members who make exceptional contributions to UW's philanthropic culture. Any UW employee can nominate a candidate, and the link to the form can be found here. 
 
Dr. Gabrielle Allen, Director of the School of Computing, has informed me that she will not seek an extension to her 3-year appointment and will step down as Director of the School at the end of this summer. Dr. Allen also communicated that she will not apply for the school’s deanship when that search launches. Dr. Allen has been instrumental in shaping the School of Computing since its inception, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, expanding research initiatives, and enhancing educational opportunities for students in computing and related fields. To keep the school's momentum moving forward, I plan to release the process to appoint an Interim Director soon.  I extend my sincere thanks to Dr. Allen for her dedication and contributions to the University of Wyoming and the School of Computing.
 
Yesterday, President Seidel held a Faculty Town Hall at the Union. Some key themes that emerged from the survey responses included our attainment of R1 status, the Wyoming Legislative session, and federal executive orders. Faculty colleagues raised insightful questions about R1 and especially its connection to our faculty workload policy. In the near future, Academic Affairs will establish a working group led by Vice Provost Dave Bagley to review UW Regulation 2-9 and suggest potential improvements if necessary. 
 
Another important topic discussed at the Town Hall was possible new legislation that may impact UW. The Wyoming legislative session will continue for another week, and while we do not have signed bills from the Governor yet, we are monitoring closely. I have mobilized a small team in Academic Affairs that is currently analyzing proposed legislation and drafting communication and implementation plans for our campus. We look forward to working with, and hearing from you as we engage in this work.  Know that we are ready to assist our campus through any changes. 
 
I appreciate your commitment to our students and university, thank you for all you do. 
J. Scott Turpen
Interim Provost

Dear Colleagues,

As you may know, during the January meeting of the Board of Trustees, I was directed by the Board to initiate a review per UW Regulation 2-13 that may lead to the School of Computing (SOC) moving from the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) to become an independent unit. I have been working with Dean Cameron Wright and Director Gabrielle Allen to outline this review's necessary steps and timeline. The 2-13 proposal from Dean Wright will be presented to the Faculty Senate for consideration at the March meetings.  I will provide a final recommendation to the Board of Trustees in April. 
 

Nominations are being solicited for student speaker candidates for the Spring Commencement Ceremony on May 17, 2025. Faculty, staff, and student organizations are invited to nominate students for this incredible honor. We seek students with a record of academic excellence, demonstrated leadership, and excellent presentation skills. To submit a nomination, see the link here. 
 
President Seidel will host a Faculty Town Hall on February 26 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Union Family Room. You can submit questions through a survey here, which will close tomorrow (Friday, February 21). I look forward to seeing many faculty members there next week. 
 
Interim Vice President for Student Affairs, Nycole Courtney, has initiated a search for the next Dean of Students. The application portal is open here.  Please utilize your academic connections to promote this position. A heartfelt thank you to Libby Thorson for serving as Interim Dean of Students and for her unwavering passion and dedication to students during this time.
 
Enjoy the rest of the week and weekend, 

J. Scott Turpen
Interim Provost

Dear Colleagues,
As you likely read in yesterday's UW communications, the Carnegie Foundation has classified the University of Wyoming as a Research 1 Institution. This is an incredible honor and one we should be proud of. It also adds a level of responsibility to our faculty, students, and the state of Wyoming that we continue to support our research endeavors. I look forward to working closely with VP Chitnis and our colleagues at REDD to enhance our support structures and resources as an R1 institution.

 
This week, I am attending the UW Foundation Board meeting to discuss the important initiatives we are pursuing in Academic Affairs. I will tell board members about our efforts in recruitment and retention, student success programs, collaboration with Deans on endowments and scholarships, and how we will continue to work closely with the Foundation on stewardship and improving donor relations. 

As you know, UW’s AI Committee, chaired by Associate Dean Steve Barrett, has consistently convened and engaged with AI topics and issues since 2023. I recently met with the committee and updated the charge to expand upon integrating AI tools into pedagogical practices and developing AI-focused curricula. You can view the committee's progress so far on the website here, with more updates to follow. A big thank you to everyone on this committee!

Finally, I want to thank Dr. John Kambutu from the College of Education for his contributions to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program as a member of the National Screening Committee. Dr. Kambutu’s time and energy dedicated to reviewing applications demonstrate a strong commitment to excellence for the University of Wyoming and our national colleagues. Thank you, John!
 

Have a great weekend, 

J. Scott Turpen
Interim Provost

 
Dear Colleagues,

As debates continue nationwide and in Cheyenne related to presidential executive orders and legislation that might affect higher education, we know there remains uncertainty and concern in our community. I reiterate President Seidel’s recent campus message: We are working hard to address issues that may impact our students, faculty, and staff. The situation is dynamic and is likely to change. We’re following the developing issues closely and providing input when appropriate. Regarding federal issues that might affect our research enterprise, Vice President Chitnis continues to update this webpage to provide information and guidance. 

 

Below are dates and locations to upcoming town hall meetings for faculty, staff, and students, hosted by President Seidel, which will provide opportunities to ask questions: 

Staff Town Hall - 2/19/2025: 4-5 pm - Union West Ballroom
Student Town Hall - 2/24/2025: 6-7 pm - Union Programming Space
Faculty Town Hall - 2/26/2025: 4-5 pm - Union Family Room
As did President Seidel, we reaffirm that UW is a place where all are welcome and can succeed. 

 

Nominations are requested for the annual Ellbogen, Humphrey, Hollon, and Laramigo faculty awards. You can learn more about the process here, with nomination packets due February 28th. A big thank you to the Faculty Recognition Committee for their dedication and time in reviewing the nomination packets and recommending faculty for these awards:

·       Jamie Snyder
·       Macenzie Festa
·       Courtney McKim
·       Ann (Nancy) Peck
·       Jeremy Vandiver
·       Noah Novogrodsky
·       David Krueger
·       Li Li 
·       Meg van Ballen-Wood
 
Last Saturday, I attended the Wyoming National Guard reception, hosted by Governor Gordon.  It was an inspiring event and I was able to make connections with many folks in the Wyoming National Guard. 

I’m heading to Cheyenne tomorrow morning to attend the Wyoming Community College Commission meeting. On the agenda is the topic of the applied baccalaureate and the draft rule that will provide an opportunity for the expansion of applied baccalaureates offered by our community college partners. I am looking forward to the dialogue and will provide an update as this discussion continues.  

 

Take care and enjoy the weekend. 

 

J. Scott Turpen
Interim Provost

Dear Colleagues,

It has been a full week with students back on campus, full classrooms, and the Board of Trustees meeting. 

There are many important topics on the agenda at the Trustees meeting this week, including a Next Generation USP update, a discussion on enrollment efforts, and how the Wyoming Community College Commission’s new proposed rule on applied baccalaureates will affect UW and the review process we will need to put in place. You can view the agenda and materials here. 

We’ve received notice that the American Council on Education is collecting classification data for UW’s pending status as an R1 institution. Vice President Chitnis and I will be working with our teams to verify the data and ensure accuracy. This will be an exciting and important designation, and we look forward to hearing on the official determination in late April. 

At the Board meeting this week I shared our list of programs that were reviewed during 2024.  I agreed with the colleges’ recommendation of these programs to be eliminated, consolidated, or continued.  We will continue this important work again in 2025. 

As many of our colleagues know, Dr. Tami Benham Deal is retiring this year, with her last day on February 4. Tami has been a wonderful leader, colleague, and friend to many on campus and in our community. Her presence and voice at UW will be missed. I can promise that I will miss her sage advice everyday.  To send her off into retirement, Academic Affairs is hosting a celebration next Thursday, January 30 from 3:30 – 5:00pm at the Fireside Lounge in the lower level of the Union. We will provide light refreshments and invite the UW and Laramie community to stop by and wish her well in her next journey. Thank you, Tami, for everything. 

Have a great semester.  Thank you for everything you do for our students and UW. 

J. Scott Turpen
Interim Provost

Dear Colleagues,

Happy New Year! Faculty and staff are already back into the swing of the semester, as we look forward to students arriving for the first day of classes next Tuesday. I’ll share some updates this week that hopefully faculty and staff will find useful.

The Academic Affairs website has resources for faculty as we near the start of classes. See below for helpful links: 

·    Academic Administrative Calendar

·    Low Enrollment Course Procedures

·    Syllabus Requirements

·    Spring 2025 Final Examination Schedule

If you have any questions about these resources, please send them to me at provost@uwyo.edu.

The beginning of the spring semester is also the time to begin conducting annual performance reviews for staff, faculty, and administrators. Faculty, please take time to review and update your activities in WyoVita, the university’s online tool for documenting your professional activities. This information will be used by your department heads and deans for the performance review.  To learn more about WyoVita, you can information here.

As noted in President Seidel's campus message this week, the 2025 Wyoming Legislative session started this past Tuesday. There will be topics of discussion and interest for UW, and we will be keeping you informed as the session continues. 

As a final note, our Director of Business Operations, Stephanie Stark, has accepted a new position as Director of Financial Compliance and Integrity. Tomorrow will be her final day in the Provost’s Office. While we will miss her in Academic Affairs, we wish her the very best. Congratulations on your new role, Stephanie!

We are now accepting applications for a new Director of Business Operations and hope to have the position filled soon. You can find information about the position here.

Have a great weekend, and remember that UW offices are closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Day and Wyoming Equality Day!
Sincerely, 
J. Scott Turpen
Interim Provost

Dear Colleagues,

As we head into the winter break, I'd like to mention a few things before we turn our attention to family, friends, and the holiday season.

 
We are making good progress in several areas. For example, this week we had a productive meeting with Advising Managers, Deans, and Associate Deans to discuss campus wide advising and our commitment to enhancing advising services. Our Advising Managers and everyone in that meeting were thoughtful, helpful, and creative in identifying paths forward. The discussion was terrific and I appreciated the open dialogue.  We will continue these meetings early in the new year to identify solutions to identified issues. We also plan to restart an advising council to regularly engage in these types of advising discussions.  I'd like to thank all of our advisors for the dedication and support they provide our students and look forward to more conversations and next steps. 

The School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies (SPPAIS) recently partnered with the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center to conduct a biennial election-year survey of Wyoming residents, and the University of Wyoming is engaging well with our communities and aligning with important values. I was pleased to see that perceptions of UW are strong. It’s important for all UW stakeholders, inside and outside of the university, to understand the positive impacts UW has for Wyoming.  You can read more about the survey here. We should continue to be proud and share the great work we do at UW. 

I attended two celebrations last week for graduating students. The Multicultural Graduation was last Friday, and 19 students were recognized and celebrated with over 100 family members, friends, UW faculty, administrators, and staff in attendance. We recognized students from 4 different U.S. states and eight different countries. It was a wonderful celebration, and I was honored to be there. In addition, our Winter Commencement was held on Saturday, with around 400 students walking across the stage to receive their diplomas. Graduation is one of my favorite times of the year and I always look forward to speaking with our outstanding students.  The Arena Auditorium was filled with family, friends, and faculty recognizing the achievements of their graduates. I was so proud to be in the student processional and enjoyed the excitement as we made our way down the hall:
 
Thanks to all the efforts by our Student Success and Graduation colleagues for organizing both commencement events! 
Thank you for everything you do to make our institution great. I wish you all the best and we’ll see you in the New Year!
Most sincerely, 

J. Scott Turpen
Interim Provost

Dear Colleagues,

Our Board of Trustees met on Wednesday and approved the appointment of Dr. Patrick Hardigan as the next Dean of the College of Health Sciences. He will start his new role on January 2, 2025, and I look forward to working with him and the college in the coming year. 

This week I had several hours of discussion with the Faculty Senate Executive Committee as well the Chair of Faculty Senate, Ray Fertig and Chair-elect, Rob Godby, regarding the draft Next Gen USP proposal.  I found the discussions to be valuable and productive.  The USP Review Working Group is in the process of collecting feedback from our many stakeholders.  They will now review this feedback, answer questions, and make possible revisions to the draft.  We want to ensure we have time to carefully consider this critical piece of our curriculum. There is still time to submit feedback on the proposal, which you can find here, and submit comments in this survey. I look forward to hearing more discussion and helping this process move forward.  I appreciate everyone who is, and has been, engaged in this process.

In preparing for the spring semester, Academic Affairs has updated the syllabus requirements to align with our new Equal Opportunity and Prohibited Efforts board action from earlier this year. You can find the syllabus requirements and template here . If you have questions about the Equal Opportunity and Prohibited Efforts action, please reach out to our Vice Provost for Access and Engagement, Brandon McElroy. 

We are closing out finals week, celebrating with colleagues at various holiday gatherings, and looking forward to our Winter Commencement this coming Saturday. I hope to see many faculty and staff celebrating the academic achievements of our students at commencement, it wouldn't be possible without your commitment to their success. 

All my best,  
J. Scott Turpen
Interim Provost

 
Dear Colleagues,

I’m pleased to share this message with our university colleagues in my new role as Interim Provost.  A special thanks to the team in AA for their support through the transition process.  I’m just wrapping my second week, and there is a lot to share. 

First, I’d like to keep the commitment of communication and transparency by continuing with regular messages from the Office of the Provost. Keeping people informed aims to fosters a collaborative environment. This is the first of many communications to come. 

I'll take a moment to highlight a few priorities as Interim Provost. Some of these include: 
 
·    Enrollment: This is a broad area that encompasses many areas such as advising, registration, recruitment, retention, financial aid, and others. I serve on the Strategic Enrollment Management group and we are working to assess and improve practices as needed.  We will need your input as we continue this work and we are excited to engaging in more discussion.

·    Student Success: Utilizing our partnership with Student Affairs, we aim to continue our commitment to student success with initiatives, projects, and support.  

·    Next Gen USP: Working with the Next Gen Committee and Vice Provost Michelle Hilaire, we look forward to working with university partners inside and outside UW, including Faculty Senate, Community Colleges, and many others, to develop and implement a thoughtful, effective, well vetted USP.

 

In the past weeks I’ve spent significant time in meetings learning about the many entities in academic affairs, our strengths, and areas we need to improve.  The challenges are real, but our goals are achievable.  I’ve been at UW for over 23 years and I have a good understanding of our institution and the value we provide to our students, staff, faculty, and the state of Wyoming.  I am very excited to work with each of you.  When we work together, we will continue to achieve a lot.
Have a great finals week and I look forward to seeing you on campus or at graduation.

All my best,  

J. Scott Turpen
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President
 

Dear Colleagues:

 

It’s been a couple of weeks since we last posted a Provost’s Message. The team in the Provost’s Office has been continuing to work hard to provide stability during this time of leadership transition. I cannot thank our team enough for their willingness to take on extra work and spend extra time making sure we meet our standard of high-quality customer service.  What an amazing group of talented people! 

 

We have a few updates we would like to share.

 

• We have already started the onboarding process with incoming Interim Provost, Scott Turpen and are looking forward to him assuming the role on November 25, 2024.

 

• We are pleased to announce that Dr. Michelle Hilaire has accepted the position of Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. Michelle will begin her role on December 1, 2024 on a part-time basis.  She will also continue to serve as Interim Dean of the College of Health Sciences until a new Dean is appointed.  The Office of Academic Affairs will provide support to Michelle and the college to ensure a smooth transition. Join me in congratulating Michelle!

 

• Candidates for the Dean of the College of Health Sciences will be on campus next week. You can view the UW campus announcement here.  We encourage all to attend public sessions and provide feedback.  

 

The Office of Academic Affairs understands that college life can be both exhilarating and challenging for our students.  Along with our partners in Student Affairs, we’re committed to providing our students with the help and resources needed to thrive. We are equally committed to providing support to our faculty and staff.  It is hard to believe we are only four weeks away from finals week – a time that can bring increased anxiety in all our lives.  I would like to remind you of resources available to help everyone navigate this stressful time.

 

One of the resources available to students is the provision of university approved excused student absences. These absence notifications follow the UW SAP regarding the Student Attendance Policy and are intended to provide absence notice to faculty so that students can make up coursework. Excused absences can be reviewed and approved by the Dean of Students Office for classes from the first day of the semester through the end of finals.  If you have any questions about a student’s absence, need to submit an absence for group travel, or want to learn more about the process, please contact the Dean of Students Office or refer to the Excused Absence page on their website. 

 

Below is a list of campus resources that are available to our students, faculty, and staff.  We are an incredible community and I am proud of the ways we support one another. 

 

• Wellness Center https://www.uwyo.edu/rec/wellness-center/index.html
• University Counseling Center https://www.uwyo.edu/ucc/index.html
• Student Health Service https://www.uwyo.edu/shser/index.html
• Pokes Center for Community Resources https://www.uwyo.edu/dos/pccr/index.html
• Food Share Pantry https://www.uwyo.edu/dos/student-resources/food-pantry.html
• Employee Assistance Program https://www.uwyo.edu/hr/employee-benefits/employee-assistance-program/index.html

 

Enjoy the weekend and stay warm!

 

Acting Provost, Tami Benham-Deal

Academic Affairs

A&S Dean Turpen Named UW’s Interim Provost

The dean of the University of Wyoming’s College of Arts and Sciences has been appointed as the interim provost, UW’s chief academic officer, effective Nov. 25.

Scott Turpen, who has led College of Arts and Sciences since July 1, 2022, will take the reins from Acting Provost Tami Benham-Deal, who was named acting provost following the resignation of Kevin Carman Oct. 1.

Turpen’s interim appointment was approved this week by the UW Board of Trustees.

In addition to leading the university’s academic enterprise, Turpen will oversee the vice president for student affairs. During the interim period, the vice president for information technology, who has been under the provost, will report to Vice President for Budget and Finance Alex Kean.

“Dr. Turpen is a strong, steady leader who has the respect and support of his academic college and people across UW,” President Ed Seidel says. “Under his leadership as interim provost, I’m confident we’ll continue moving forward with our efforts to enhance our service to students and the state of Wyoming.”

“I am honored to serve the university as the interim provost and to support UW during this transition period,” Turpen says. “I remain excited about the future of the university and look forward to working with the faculty, students, staff, administration and all stakeholders.”

Turpen is a longtime Department of Music faculty member who served as a department head and associate dean of the college before taking the reins as dean in 2022. He holds graduate degrees from the University of Georgia.

Seidel plans to launch a national search to identify the next provost and executive vice president later this year.

Information about the appointment of an interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences will be forthcoming.

Benham-Deal Named UW Acting Provost

President Ed Seidel has appointed Tami Benham-Deal as acting provost until an interim provost is installed.

As acting provost, Benham-Deal will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Office of Academic Affairs, including contract approvals, faculty personnel appointments and various committee representation.

“As this past week progressed, it became clear to me that we needed someone who can make decisions for Academic Affairs, ensure institutional priorities keep moving forward and to otherwise ensure a smooth transition,” Seidel says. “She has been invaluable to me already during the transition, and I am pleased to formalize her role as acting provost.”

Benham-Deal joined the faculty in the Division of Kinesiology and Health in 1989, where she holds the rank of professor. After serving a year as associate dean in the College of Health Sciences, she joined the leadership team in the Office of the Provost in 2014, where she serves as senior vice provost.