People | Office of the Provost

The Office of the Provost is the hub of Boston University’s scholastic enterprise, supervising all academic programming, faculty affairs, global programs, and space planning, as well as a range of strategic initiatives across the institution.

At the heart of our operation is a dedicated team of people working across dozens of offices to uphold BU’s standard of academic excellence and ensure that everyone—from students to faculty and staff—has the information and support they need to thrive.

Administration

Dr. Harvey Young to Step Down as Dean of the College of Fine Arts; Will Continue as Interim Vice President for the Arts

February 5th, 2026

From Dr. Gloria Waters, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer I write today to share the news that Dr. Harvey Young, who has served as dean of the College of Fine Arts (CFA) with distinction since January 2018, has announced his intention to step down from his role and return to the faculty following a brief, planned sabbatical. Known for his transparent, accessible, and consistent leadership, […]

Administration

Questrom Dean Susan Fournier to Step Down at End of Academic Year

January 23rd, 2026

From Dr. Gloria Waters, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer I write today to share that Susan Fournier, who has guided the Questrom School of Business as its dean since 2018, has decided to step down from her role as of June 30, 2026, and retire from the University at the end of the calendar […]

Administration

Actions Taken by the University Council During the Fall 2025 Semester

December 19th, 2025

From Dr. Gloria Waters, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer The Boston University Council held three meetings during the fall 2025 semester on September 16, November 18, and December 9. At these meetings, the council voted to approve the following degree and certificate programs: Master of Science in AI for Enterprise IT (CDS)* Master of […]

Administration

Promotions of Lecturers and Faculty with Modified Titles on the Charles River Campus

November 10th, 2025

From Dr. Gloria Waters, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer Each year, we have the pleasure of recognizing the promotions of talented faculty on the Charles River Campus to the ranks of full and associate professor, as we did in June. Other faculty colleagues, equally important to our teaching and research mission, have their promotions […]

Administration

Appointment of John Byers as Executive Director of AIDA

October 30th, 2025

From Dr. Gloria Waters, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer I’m very pleased to announce that Professor John Byers has been appointed as the executive director of Boston University’s Artificial Intelligence Development Accelerator for Academic and Administrative Excellence (AIDA) and AI advisor to the provost, effective November 1. Byers is a professor of computer science […]

Administration

Professor Natalie McKnight to Step Down as Dean of the College of General Studies

October 24th, 2025

From Dr. Gloria Waters, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dean Natalie McKnight, who has led the Boston University College of General Studies (CGS) with distinction since 2013, has announced that she plans to step down from her leadership role at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 academic year and return to the faculty. A nationally […]

Announcements

Expanding Support for Our Faculty

October 8th, 2025

From Dr. Gloria Waters, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer As part of our University-wide commitment to recruit, support, and promote world-class faculty, I am delighted to share several important developments that strengthen the resources available to you and expand the ways we work together to advance our teaching, research, and scholarship. Boston University Faculty […]

Faculty

New and Early Career Faculty Resources Fair

October 8th, 2025

Thursday, October 23 | 11AM - 2PM Photonics Building, 8 St. Mary's St., Room 906 BU Faculty Development is a new office that advances the intellectual growth and professional development of faculty by offering impactful educational opportunities for faculty at every career stage. We invite new and early career faculty to attend this resources fair […]