Dr. Deborah Vess, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies and Academic Programs
Following a nationwide search and extensive campus participation, Dr. William J. Fritz, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, is pleased to report the appointment of Dr. Deborah Vess as Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies and Academic Programs at the College of Staten Island, effective July 1, 2011.
Dr. Vess is an accomplished scholar and administrator who has a strong background in faculty development, and curricular and co-curricular activities. She is member of the statewide Selection Committee for the Board of Regents Excellence in Teaching, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, and Program Excellence Awards and is a member of the Review Board for McGraw-Hill and Magna Publications Award for Scholarly Work on Teaching and Learning. She has received grant funding from the Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, the Georgia Humanities Council, and from the University System of Georgia Board of Regents’ Office of Information and Instructional Technology. Dr. Vess’s publications include many peer-reviewed articles, encyclopedia contributions, and columns, and she has presented her work at national symposia and conferences.
Prior to joining CSI, Dr. Vess held the position of Special Assistant to the Provost and SACS Liaison at the Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia. She also served as the Assistant to the University President for the University System of Georgia Core Curriculum Strong Foundations Project. Previous positions held by Dr. Vess include Coordinator of Interdisciplinary Studies at DeKalb College in Atlanta, Georgia where she also held the position of tenured Associate Professor of History and Philosophy.
Dr. Vess has a strong background in the liberal arts and believes that “a firm grounding in the liberal arts disciplines enables lifelong learning and provides a foundation for lifelong success in professional areas.” As Special Assistant to the Provost at Georgia College and State University, Dr. Vess was the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Accreditation (SACS) Liaison, Interim Director of Assessment, Coordinator of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and Professor of History and Interdisciplinary Studies.
One of Dr. Vess’s most impressive achievements was her success in creating, completing, and submitting a strong SACS Fifth-Year Interim Midterm Report in March 2010, which dramatically improved the standing of the college from its last review in 2004. Under her guidance, Georgia College and State University was found in compliance with no additional reporting required.
“I commend the outstanding work of the search committee co-chaired by Dr. Christine Flynn Saulnier, Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Dr. Jeffrey Rothman, Professor and Chair of the Physical Therapy Department,” said Provost Fritz. “The Committee’s diligence and insight produced an impressive pool of applicants, and its hard work assured a successful outcome of this important search. On behalf of myself, the faculty, administration, and staff, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to Dr. Ann Lubrano for her work as Acting Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies and Academic Programs. She brought knowledge and distinction to the position of Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies and Academic Programs.”
