Office of the Provost

New IRDS Leadership

Dear Colleagues:

I’m pleased to report that we have hired a new associate vice provost of Institutional Research and Decision Support to lead VCU’s IRDS office. Michael D. Bourgeois, Ph.D., who begins working with us on September 1, offers more than 20 years of higher education experience with a passion for student and institutional success with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Dr. Bourgeois most recently worked at Purdue University Northwest where he was hired in 2019 to serve as the university’s first executive director of Institutional Research and chief data strategist. In the summer of 2021, he was elevated to the title of assistant vice chancellor of Institutional Effectiveness and Data Strategy where his role was expanded to align strategic planning and implementation of data-informed decision making across the university.

He is also the president of the board of directors for the Association of Higher Education Effectiveness, a network of higher education professionals who work or lead offices that integrate multiple functions to promote and support evidence-based planning and improvement.

Before joining Purdue, Dr. Bourgeois worked for five years, beginning in 2014, at California State University – Channel Islands where he rose from the title of director of Institutional Effectiveness to become the executive director of Institutional Research, Planning and Effectiveness. He also spent six months as the interim executive director of Institutional Effectivensss and Decision-Support at California State University, Chico.

Beginning in 1997, he spent 16 years at the University of California, Santa Barbara where his experience included serving as an instructor and research associate in the Department of Sociology and the assistant director and principal analyst of the Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment Office. Within that time, he also worked at Antioch University in Santa Barbara, CA between 2002 and 2006 where he held titles ranging from adjunct instructor to director of Online Education.

Dr. Bourgeois earned his doctorate and master’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and his bachelor’s degree from Texas State University.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Bourgeois on his new position and welcoming him to VCU!

Best regards,

Categories Leadership Announcements, Provost