New provost announced
I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Gail Hackett, Ph.D., as VCU’s next provost and vice president for academic affairs. Her appointment as VCU’s chief academic officer follows a national search and is effective March 1, 2015.
Dr. Hackett is a strong and accomplished academic leader and scholar who shares VCU’s commitment to student success and faculty excellence. She has deep experience in developing and implementing many of our strategic initiatives, such as responsibility-based budget models, strategic planning and online and distance learning.
Dr. Hackett currently serves as provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, a position she has held since 2008. Before that, she had a 20-year career at Arizona State University where she rose through the administrative ranks to be university vice provost and founding dean of its University College.
Dr. Hackett is an accomplished scholar, and also held faculty positions at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and The Ohio State University. Her academic appointment at VCU will be as a tenured professor of psychology in the College of Humanities and Sciences.
She received a Ph.D. in counseling psychology, a Master of Education degree in counseling and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from The Pennsylvania State University.
On behalf of all of VCU, I thank the search committee, under the leadership of co-chairs Dr. David Sarrett and Dr. Susan Gooden, for their hard work and dedication to bring the search to a successful conclusion.
I also must acknowledge the excellent job Dr. John Wiencek has done as interim provost. He is a tireless, effective leader who has maintained the momentum of our strategic plan and provided wise and intelligent counsel to me. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his unselfish and valuable service. He remains an important member of the leadership team.
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