In Appreciation of Dr. Subramaniam
I write to announce the transition of Mangala Subramaniam, Ph.D., from her role as senior vice provost for faculty affairs back to the faculty, effective May 31. Dr. Subramaniam has been an invaluable member of our leadership team, and her contributions have left an indelible mark on our institution.
During her two-and-a-half-year tenure, Dr. Subramaniam achieved remarkable milestones, including the reorganization of the Faculty Affairs unit to improve its efficiency and effectiveness, and the creation of a strategic vision for the unit that aligns with the Office of the Provost. Her efforts in improving transparency in the promotion and tenure process, including the establishment of two task forces and the organization of open faculty forums, have been instrumental in revising promotion and tenure criteria, processes, and structures.
Dr. Subramaniam has also enhanced professional development for faculty through initiatives such as annual conferences for non-tenure-track faculty and associate professors, orientations for new faculty and department chairs, monthly forums for department chairs, and a mentoring program for assistant and associate professors. Her leadership in the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD) Faculty Success Program has benefited multiple schools and colleges.
Her innovative approach to promoting research and developing academic programs is evident in her contributions to the establishment of Convergence Labs at VCU, which includes consulting with faculty for brainstorming sessions and course development. She has also worked diligently to enhance data quality and consistency in collaboration with Institutional Research and Decision Support and Human Resources.
Dr. Subramaniam’s commitment to faculty recognition is demonstrated through the revision of criteria for Distinguished Faculty Awards, the achievement of SCHEV awards by VCU faculty, and her support for expanding networks of expert scholars and endowed professorships and chairs. She played a leading role in creating and administering the NIRA initiative and has planned additional initiatives for 2025-26, including the University Faculty Scholar and Excellence in Pedagogical Innovation Award.
Her contributions to the COACHE project, including co-chairing the faculty steering committee and organizing presentations to disseminate information, have resulted in a commendable response rate of close to 60%. Additionally, Dr. Subramaniam has enhanced resources provided through the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and has led efforts to ensure teaching and learning relevance in the face of technological innovations, including the development of Gen AI guidelines and resources for faculty and students.
Dr. Subramaniam, who holds a faculty appointment in the Department of Sociology in the College of Humanities and Sciences, will take a research leave through the remainder of 2025. We are excited to see her continue her outstanding work in sociology. We are confident that her expertise and passion will further enrich our academic programs and contribute to the ongoing success of our university.
In the coming days, I will be announcing the appointment of an interim leader who will serve as senior vice provost for faculty affairs while the Office of the Provost conducts a search for a permanent successor.
Please join me in expressing our deepest gratitude to Dr. Mangala Subramaniam for her exceptional service and leadership. We look forward to her continued contributions in her new role.
Sincerely,
Fotis Sotiropoulos, Ph.D.
Provost and senior vice president for academic affairs