Provost announces two promotions
Blondin and Westlake will lead expansion of international education and strategic design
Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce the promotions of two dynamic leaders in the Office of the Provost. Jill E. Blondin, Ph.D. has been promoted to vice provost for global initiatives and Garret Westlake, Ph.D. has been promoted to vice provost for innovation and strategic design. Both appointments are effective immediately.
Jill E. Blondin, Ph.D., vice provost for global initiatives
Since 2022 Dr. Blondin has served as the inaugural associate vice provost for global initiatives. She remains a leading force in strategically expanding VCU’s international enrollment and global partnerships – preliminary reports (Census I) indicate international enrollments have increased 16% over last fall and focused partnerships with universities, particularly those in India, continue to grow. In 2023 the Institute of International Education (IIE) honored Dr. Blondin as the Senior International Officer of the Year.
Dr. Blondin joined VCU in 2013 as the inaugural director of VCU Globe and was promoted to Executive Director of the Global Education Office in 2018. In addition to her administrative role, Dr. Blondin is associate professor of art history in the School of the Arts. She received a B.A. in art history from Indiana University, and a M.A. and Ph.D. in art history from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Garret Westlake, Ph.D., vice provost for innovation and strategic design
In his new, expanded role Dr. Westlake will lead the development and management of partnerships to enhance student experiential learning opportunities, internships, and entrepreneurial activities. This role is critical in bridging the gap between academic programs and industry, ensuring that students gain practical experience and skills that are highly valued in the workforce.
Dr. Westlake has been on the leading edge of transformative education since joining VCU in 2016 as executive director of the VCU daVinci Center. He co-founded VCU’s Shift Labs, a two-time Fast Company winner and now a global initiative with partners in the US and abroad; serves on Fast Company’s Innovation Council; and serves as a regular consultant to Fortune 500 companies such as Allianz, Owens and Minor, and LEGO.
In 2022 he was promoted to associate vice provost for innovation and served as a catalyst for advancing pedagogical, technological, design and policy innovations throughout the university. He has worked with VCU’s academic units to develop programs that advance a design thinking mindset across the university; supported cross-disciplinary collaborations and vertically integrated projects; and has consulted on innovation strategy, idea generation, and business plan development. His emphasis on fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship is directly contributing to the implementation of VCU’s Academic Repositioning recommendations.
Dr. Westlake received a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University, a M.Ed. in Special Education from Vanderbilt University, and a B.A. in Cognitive Studies from Carleton College.
Please join me in congratulating Drs. Blondin and Westlake on these well-deserved promotions and for their dedication to the success of Virginia Commonwealth University.
Best regards,
Fotis Sotiropoulos, Ph.D.
Provost and senior vice president for academic affairs