Since July 1, 2022 I have served as associate provost for undergraduate affairs and special programs, George Washington University. I oversee provostial undergraduate programs, including the University Honors Program and Elizabeth J. Somers Women’s Leadership Program, and work with schools and other units across the University to promote excellence in undergraduate education.
From 2014-19 I served as associate dean for graduate studies in the University’s Columbian College of Arts & Sciences.
Overview of experience as associate dean
- Responsible for $11 million student support budget, graduate student enrollment of 2,800+, generating annual revenue of ~$70 million across 80+ programs on five campuses and three schools within the college (Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration; Corcoran School of the Arts and Design; School of Media and Public Affairs)
- Managed staff of twenty admissions professionals, program coordinators, recruiters, and award specialists
- Primary responsibility for increasing net graduate tuition revenue while enhancing selectivity
- Member of dean’s senior staff, advised dean of the college, participated in deliberation and policy-making
- Worked with deputy provost, vice provost for diversity and inclusion, associate provost for enrollment management; offices of graduate assistantships and fellowships, academic planning and assessment, student affairs, general counsel, Title IX, human resources, international students, student financial assistance, disability support services
- Instructed and advised department chairs, directors of graduate programs, members of thesis committees
- Charged with increasing racial, ethnic, gender, and national diversity of graduate student body
- Responsible for evaluating, revising, enforcing academic policies
- Public speaking at commencement events, recruitment events, faculty meetings, chair’s council
- Interacted with and assisted college and university donors and external partners
Selected Accomplishments
- Increased applications by 12% since 2015
- Increased students matriculating by 5.6% since 2015
- Achieved 41% increase in committed applicants from underrepresented minorities† in 2017
- Achieved 9% increase in international applicants in 2017
- Launched eight new graduate programs, including Applied Economics; Data Science; Environmental Chemistry; Decorative Arts and Design History; Communication Management
- Designed and implemented strategic tuition award protocol for revenue-generating degree programs
- Developed data-driven, program-specific guidelines for risk management when over-offering awards
- Conceived and implemented pipeline partnership with Minority-Serving Institutions (e.g., HBCUs, Hispanic-Serving Institutions)
- Designed and implemented travel reimbursement program for 100+ applicants from diverse backgrounds
- Oversaw transition of college to new university platform for managing prospects and applications (TargetX)
- Negotiated, drafted, and oversaw implementation of memoranda of understanding between college, individual departments and programs, and external entities
- Oversaw integration of three graduate programs from Corcoran School of Art during acquisition and incorporation into college
- Served on national steering committee of Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society for minority doctoral candidates; select new members; attend annual conference at Yale University
- Served as institutional liaison for Xavier University’s BUILD Grant (Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity) from the National Institutes of Health
- Launched four new funding initiatives: graduate instructorship; dissertation completion fellowship; graduate research travel grants; Columbian Fellowships for doctoral students
- Participated in selection of winners of competitive fellowships at college and university levels
- Completed extensive empirical study of PhD programs and adjusted funding plans on that basis
- Recruited three advanced degree program associates; assistant director of graduate recruitment; doctoral student services specialist
- Evaluated, revised, and publicized revisions to academic policies, in consultation with graduate studies committee
- Reviewed student appeals of student requests for departures from college policies, leaves of absence, extensions of time to degree
- Reviewed program recommendations for probation or termination
- Reviewed all grievances from graduate students, direct students to appropriate grievance processes, and assemble ad hoc committees to evaluate complaints of arbitrary academic evaluation
† Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander