Organizational Changes in the Office of the University Provost
From Dr. Gloria Waters, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer
I am writing to share a few structural changes within the Office of the Provost. My vision is that this new structure will streamline our operations, foster greater collaboration across the University, and enhance our ability to support our faculty, staff, and students.
First, to strengthen strategic planning and resource management, we are re-envisioning key areas to provide cross-cutting advisory support across academic units. Academic Initiatives & Operational Excellence, led by Associate Provost Sarah Hokanson, will take on an important role in supporting college-level strategy and operational excellence, including oversight of Academic Program Review and Strategic Communicationswithin the Office of the Provost. This area will also grow its portfolio to provide leadership for University-wide services, including the University Libraries, the Center for Career Development, Student Wellbeing, and the Newbury Center.
Second, Victoria Sahani, Associate Provost for Community & Inclusion, has let me know that she intends to return to the faculty of the School of Law effective July 1. I am grateful for the work of Victoria and her team and look forward to recognizing her many contributions later this summer. With Victoria’s transition, Community & Inclusion will move under the Office of the President. Connecting this work more concretely to the strategic priorities in the Office of the President will allow us to best support our students, faculty, and staff moving forward.
Third, to ensure our graduate enrollment goals are fully integrated with our broader graduate strategy, Graduate Enrollment, led by Associate Vice President David Cotter, has been integrated into Graduate Affairs, led by Associate Provost Sean Mullen. The former Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs unit has also been reimagined within Graduate Affairs and will continue to serve all graduate and professional students as well as postdoctoral scholars.
Finally, Enrollment & Student Administration, currently led by Vice President ad interim Christopher Sedore, is doing critical work that aligns closely with presidential priorities and will therefore become integrated into the Office of the President.
These changes reflect our commitment to continuous improvement and our intention to align the Office of the Provost more closely with the University’s evolving needs and strategic priorities. I hope this broader visibility into our structure helps clarify how we are working to advance our shared mission. I look forward to continued collaboration as we move ahead.
Organizational Changes in the Office of the University Provost – 5.1.25