Virginia Tech community invited to finalist forums for vice provost for faculty affairs
The search committee for Virginia Tech’s next vice provost for faculty affairs invites the campus community to participate in virtual open forum sessions for the four finalists who will visit the campus in October and early November.
The vice provost for faculty affairs will provide exceptional leadership and depth of experience in academic administration, and possess a strong commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. He/she will have the ability to lead teams, communicate with multiple and diverse audiences and individuals, and complete tasks in a complex organizational environment. The finalist selected will have a strong record of supporting a wide range of faculty positions across a broad array of academic units and fostering collaboration among different campus units to accomplish goals.
Virginia Tech launched the search for the next vice provost for faculty affairs in July following the retirement announcement of Jack W. Finney, who is leaving the university after a distinguished 34-year career as a professor, faculty advocate and respected university administrator.
Rachel Holloway, vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs and chair of the search committee, invites all members of the campus community to meet the candidates selected for virtual Open Forum discussions. Each candidate will share their perspectives on “A vision for facilitating faculty success in a research and land-grant university.” Questions may be submitted during the live discussions and feedback on the candidates can be shared with the search committee following each session.
Claire Katz
Oct. 13
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Katz currently serves as associate dean of faculties, the Murray and Celeste Fasken Chair in Distinguished Teaching, and professor of philosophy at Texas A&M University. She also holds a courtesy joint appointment in teaching, learning, and culture in the College of Education and Human Development and is an affiliate of the Religious Studies Program. A scholar with expertise in philosophy, education, gender studies, and Jewish studies, Katz is the author of three monographs, six edited collections, and more than 60 journal articles and book chapters. She is the recipient of numerous teaching awards, including the American Philosophical Association Prize for Excellence in Teaching Philosophy.
Before coming to Texas A&M, Katz was associate professor of philosophy and Jewish studies at Penn State University. She holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Memphis, a master’s in philosophy from the University of Memphis, an M.A.T. in Philosophy for Children (P4C) from Montclair University, and a bachelor’s in philosophy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).
Anisa Zvonkovic
Oct. 20
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Zvonkovic serves as dean of the College of Health and Human Performance at East Carolina University (ECU). She is widely published in the area of work and personal life and her research centers on the effects of work and other demands on individual and interpersonal lives. Zvonkovic has received over $2 million in research grants from federal funders for studying gender, unpaid labor, paid work schedules, and other work/life issues. Her research has been published in journals including Journal of Marriage and Family, Journal of Social and Personal Relations, and Journal of Physical Activity and Health. In addition to serving as dean, she also holds the Bate Distinguished Professorship at ECU.
Prior to working for ECU, Zvonkovic served as department head for human development at Virginia Tech, and taught at Texas Tech University and Oregon State University. She holds a Ph.D. and master’s in human development and family studies from The Pennsylvania State University, and a bachelor’s in psychology, religious studies from the University of Virginia.
Ron Fricker
Oct. 27
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Fricker currently serves as the interim dean of the College of Science and a professor of statistics at Virginia Tech. He is internationally recognized in the use of statistics and data science in national security applications as well as quality improvement methods and survey-based research. Fricker is the recipient of multiple teaching awards and author of more than 100 papers, monographs, and technical reports, He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a Fellow of the American Statistical Association, a Fellow of the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Leaders Network, and an elected member of the International Statistical Institute.
Before coming to Virginia Tech, Fricker was a professor of operations research at the Naval Postgraduate School, a senior statistician at the RAND Corporation, and associate director of the RAND National Security Research Division. He holds a Ph.D. and master’s in statistics from Yale University, a master’s in operations research from The George Washington University, and a bachelor’s in mathematics from the United States Naval Academy.
Autumn Cyprès
Nov. 3
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Cyprès currently serves as associate provost for lifelong learning at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where she leads the execution of strategic priorities centered on opportunities and access for adult learners. Cyprès’ research centers on the study of politics in the professoriate, the study of politics in educational organizations, and organizational toxicity and reform. Her published work is focused for audiences of academics as well as educational leaders and can be found in journals such as Educational Administration Quarterly, Educational Leadership, and Teacher’s College Record.
Prior to her time at UAB, Cyprès was a biology teacher and school principal whose line of inquiry focused on building bridges between those who prepare school leaders and those leading school systems. She also served as a department chair at Virginia Commonwealth University and founding director of the Leadership Academy at The University of Tennessee. She holds an Ed.D. and master’s in educational leadership and administration, and a bachelor’s in secondary education and teaching from Arizona State University.
The vice provost for faculty affairs position description, application/nomination process, and search updates are posted and available on the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost website.
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