New Provost Moves to Consolidate Office
Alum signs on as associate provost for strategic initiatives
Jean Morrison, the new University provost and chief academic officer, has made several structural changes designed to consolidate the areas of responsibility of BU’s associate provosts. Morrison, who came to BU earlier this month from the University of Southern California, has also appointed Nicole A. Hawkes (MET’02) associate provost for strategic initiatives.
Morrison, who described the changes in an email to academic deans, says she is making the move “so that one person will be responsible to me for closely related processes and issues. This will enable us to work closely together in an efficient way that ensures that we are effectively advancing the quality and stature of the University.”
In accordance with the changes, five associate provosts will report directly to Morrison: Hawkes, Victor Coelho, associate provost for undergraduate education, Hannelore Glaser (CAS’71, GRS’77, GSM’81), associate provost for finance and administration, Andrei Ruckenstein, vice president and associate provost for research, and Julie Sandell, associate provost for faculty affairs.
In addition, Diane Schneeberger, assistant provost for academic services, will report to Sandell, who will take on an expanded role as associate provost for faculty affairs. Ara Tahmassian, associate vice president for research compliance, will report directly to Ruckenstein, whose role will expand to include research compliance issues on the Charles River Campus. And Sue Kennedy, assistant provost, with responsibility for scholarships and fellowships, will report to Coelho.
Morrison said she would use the next few months to continue to assess the current configuration. She promised to consult broadly with faculty and administrators to learn more about existing and developing academic programs before making additional changes.
Hawkes, who worked with Morrison at USC in a variety of roles, most recently as associate provost of academic affairs, says she welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the forward momentum of BU. “The University has grown and evolved in so many positive directions since my time as a student,” she says. “I’m enthusiastic about working to further enhance the academic programs and stature.”
Hawkes’ responsibilities at USC included leadership of the academic program review process and the Women in Science and Engineering Program. Previously, she worked for the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, where she was a senior program associate for the MacArthur Fellows Program. She developed and evaluated dossiers on nominees for the fellowships in the areas of arts, humanities, public affairs, and science. She earned a BA from Mount Holyoke College, an MA from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and an MS from Boston University.
Art Jahnke can be reached at jahnke@bu.edu.
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