Appointment of Laura Jenks as Chief of Staff to the University Provost
From Dr. Jean Morrison, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer
I am delighted to announce the successful completion of a national search and the appointment of Laura Jenks as Chief of Staff to the University Provost. Laura takes over this role from former Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff Nicole Hawkes and officially begins her new duties today, October 15.
As Chief of Staff, Laura will provide oversight of the affairs and activities of the Provost’s Office and will report directly to the University Provost. She will support the programmatic efforts of the Office of the Provost by facilitating the flow of information and communications with the schools, colleges, and administrative units across the Unviersity, as well as with the Board of Trustees and the Board of Overseers. Key to this role is collaboration, and in addition to working with staff to manage the flow of issues and projects, she will work closely with Associate Provosts, Deans, and the Faculty Council to ensure that planning and initiatives are progressing effectively.
Laura brings exceptional academic, organizational, and project management experience to her new position. She arrives at BU from Opus Partners, an executive search firm in Philadelphia, PA, where she most recently served as Senior Associate, overseeing leadership searches for some of the nation’s premier universities. Previously, Laura was Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice Chancellor of Administration at Washington University in St. Louis, a fellow AAU institution. In this role, she managed strategic communications and projects on behalf of the Executive Vice Chancellor, including a range of high-profile projects that spanned community partnerships, capital improvements, and risk management – among them the development of a new strategic plan for student housing and the creation of a staff ombuds office. She has additionally served as Charter Systems Manager for Democracy Prep Public Schools, overseeing operations, accountability, and compliance for three public charter schools in Camden, New Jersey.
Laura holds a BA in African and Afro-American Studies and Sociology from Brandeis University, and an MSW and MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, where she held distinction as a Charles F. Knight Scholar, awarded for highest academic achievement in the Olin Business School.
A common thread emerging in all of Laura’s roles has been an ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with diverse constituencies, to prioritize and successfully manage multiple high-profile projects at the highest levels, and to develop forward-looking solutions to institutional challenges. It is a set of skills that we are confident will serve her very well as Chief of Staff and further the efforts in the Office of the Provost in advancing excellence at BU.
I am delighted that we have been successful in recruiting Laura Jenks to Boston University; please join me in welcoming her to the BU community.
Appointment of Laura Jenks as Chief of Staff to the University Provost – 10.15.18